Alabama Football: 30 Tide Greats who exceeded their 3-Star high school rankings

Alabama football players who exceeded 3 star ranking: 10. Eddie Jackson

• Lauderdale Lakes, FL
• Defensive Back (2013-2016)
• 2013 Recruit Ranking: No. 350 in the Nation
• 2015  First-Team All-SEC
• 2016 Second-Team All-SEC
• 2015 All-American Second Team
• No. 1 Alabama Record Book – Interception Return Yards – Career, Single-Season and Single Game

Due to academic problems, Eddie Jackson did not play high school football until his senior season. In high school, he played both receiver and defensive back and despite his limited high school career, Jackson had many college options.

Here are Eddie’s comments about the transition from high school to Alabama football, published by The Player’s Tribune

"“At first, like a lot of freshmen, I was scared to death that I was out of my league. I didn’t just have to learn how to be a defensive back; I had to learn how to be a coachable human being.”"

Nick Saban recently spoke to the Chicago Tribune about his respect for Jackson.

"“I probably am as proud of where he started and where he finished as anyone that we’ve ever had on our team. The guy really became a leader of the team, selected as a captain even though he didn’t play in the last seven games because of injury (broken left leg). It speaks volumes for how his teammates view him from a character standpoint, a leadership standpoint, setting a good example, being somebody that somebody can emulate, caring enough about other people to help and serve them.”"

Eddie Jackson accomplished many things to earn Nick Saban’s respect. Here is what Eddie said in Player’s Tribune about how it all started.

"“I’ll never forget lining up against Amari Cooper one day in practice. He was just destroying me — making me look silly on every single play. I was embarrassed. At some point I looked over at Coach Saban, begging for some relief. Coach looked back at me and yelled, ‘Eddie, I’m not taking him off you, so you better get used to it!’ We ran another play. I got roasted again. And then, as we were walking back to the line, Coop said to me, ‘Every play you go up against me, you’re getting better.”"

Eddie Jackson could be a poster boy for The Nick Saban process. What is so remarkable is how many others to whom that same statement applies. As Nick often describes the Alabama football program, the team chooses its leaders and those leaders grow new leaders. Eddie was grown by others and then he learned to do the same.

Eddie came to Alabama having to learn to be a college corner. Then he had to learn to be a safety. He excelled at both. In the Chicago Tribune interview, Saban described Eddie as having “athletic intuition” and explained it as,

"“innate instincts to be able to track the ball, play the ball, anticipate where the ball is going, know where the reception area is. That’s one of the things Eddie always did well. People say the ball just comes to him. It doesn’t come to him. He gets in the right place so he gets the ball.”"

The Chicago Bears got a draft steal in Eddie Jackson.