DeSean Jackson

Childhood and Highschool

DeSean Jackson was a talented and confident player from a very early age. Born in Los Angeles on December 1, 1986, he had matured into a strong player before he finished high school. In his senior year Jackson could run 100 meters in as little as 10.5 seconds. In his senior season on the field he caught 60 passes, ran the ball for a total of 1,075 yards, and created 15 touchdowns. These were all reasons why Jackson was one of the most aggressively recruited high school wide receivers in the nation, especially after he won the 2004 Glenn Davis Award as the player of the year for southern California.

College

Jackson chose to attend the University of California and play for the Golden Bears. As can be seen from his an college highlights video, he was an enormous asset from his very first time on the field. He scored a touchdown on pas completion and then returned a punt from the 50 yard line for another touchdown in his first game. His number on the Bears was 1, and he performed with distinction for three years. At one point he was considered for a Heisman Trophy. Rather than complete college, he left after the 2007 season and entered the world of professional football.

NFL Draft

Jackson was the 49th player drafted in 2008, when he was chosen in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles. DeSean Jackson's full NFL draft profile can be seen in vertical form here.

2008-2013 with the Eagles

Jackson was a standout star from his rookie season with the Eagles. He quickly gained a reputation as powerful but slightly unpredictable, regularly leading the league in receptions and returns but catching his share of controversy as well, such as his habit of excessive and poorly-timed celebration after a touchdown. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times and starred in his share of spectacular plays. This most notably includes the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands," when he came out of the scrimmage and returned a punt 61 yards for a game-winning touchdown with only 14 seconds left on the clock. This is to this day the only time that has ever happened in NFL history.

2014 NFL Season

Jackson left the Eagles for the Washington Redskins in 2014 following the signing of a multi-million dollar salary contract. At the time he was voted the #63rd best player in the NFL. He put on jersey #11 and had an amazing season, leading the league with an average of 20.9 yards returned every time he caught the ball. He even scored an 81-yard touchdown against his former teammates on the Eagles.

2015 NFL Season

This was a difficult season for Jackson, with assorted injuries and turbulence in his personal life distracting from on-field performance. He only made 30 catches the entire season, for a total of 528 yards. This marked his career low.

2016 NFL Season

2016 saw a renaissance for Jackson. He returned the ball a total of more than a 1,000 yards in the season, ending with 56 receptions and regaining his position as the king of returns. He made 17.9 yards per reception in 2016, which made him the NFL leader for the third time. Personal Life Despite his working life in Washington State Jackson is a resident of New Jersey. He comes from a family with a strong football tradition, and his older brother Byron Jackson worked with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad for two years. He is on Instagram as @OneofOne and Twitter at @DeSeanJackson11. Jersey You can find a #11 Redskins jersey and other DeSean Jackson gear for sale here.