Players

  NFL fans and fantasy football players alike are looking forward to a big year from Vincent Jackson. Now in his fifth NFL season, “Jax” has shown glimpses of greatness and the big-play ability that A.J. Smith envisioned when he selected Jackson with his second pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.

  In 2008, Jackson had the first 1,000-yard season of his career and the first by a Chargers wide receiver since 2001. He led the team with 1,098 yards, highlighted by a career-best 148-yard performance in a Dec. 4 win over Oakland that helped the Chargers end a three-game losing streak. For the 2008 calendar year, including the ’07 playoffs, Jackson caught 77 passes for 1,398 yards and scored nine touchdowns.

  In 2007 after grinding through a regular season in which he caught 41 passes for 623 yards and three touchdowns, Jackson really burst onto the scene in the NFL Playoffs, leading the league with 300 receiving yards. He had at least 93 yards receiving in all three of the Chargers’ playoff games, including his first career 100-yard game with 114 yards and a touchdown in the Bolts’ Wild Card Playoff win over Tennessee. Throughout the postseason, Jackson routinely made huge catches on third down, tying for the league lead with eight third-down catches, good for 152 yards (19.0 avg) and a touchdown.

  At 6-5, 230 pounds, Jackson possesses a rare blend of size and speed that often draws comparisons to the league’s best receivers. Despite his accomplishments, Jackson remains humble. He has worked hard for everything that he’s earned. As a high schooler, Jackson worked several odd jobs, including cleaning rooms in a Super 8 Motel and selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door. And despite outstanding grades (4.1 GPA), a solid prep football career and jobs throughout high school, he was unable to attract attention from the state’s two biggest schools, Colorado or Colorado State.

  As a collegian at I-AA Northern Colorado, Jackson became a two-sport standout, excelling in football and basketball. He rewrote most of the school’s football records; was a two-time All-America, and became the highest NFL draft choice in school history. On the hardwood, Jackson played two seasons for the Bears and earned All-Independent League honors as a junior when he led the team in points and assists.

  Jackson is happy to call San Diego home after spending much of his childhood in Louisiana. His father, Terence, was an Army medic and the family moved often. Jackson’s family also lived in Phoenix, Arizona and Grafenwoher, Germany before settling in Colorado Springs. Jackson’s experience as an Army-brat led him to join forces with mycelebritees.com and “Guide On,” a nonprofit mentoring program for kids who have lost a parent in combat. A portion of the proceeds from each “Action” Jackson t-shirt sold on mycelebritees.com goes directly to “Guide On.” Jackson is one of more than 20 professional athletes selling t-shirts to support a nonprofit organization.

  Last summer, Jackson also passed along his experience as an NFL wide receiver at a football camp that he hosted for kids of all ages at Westview High School in San Diego. And in December, he extended his charitable hand, joining several teammates to give away holiday meals in conjunction with the San Diego Food Bank.

  TRANSACTION HISTORY: Second-round pick (61) by San Diego, April 23, 2005…signed five-year contract with Chargers July 29, 2005.

 2009: 15-yard touchdown reception in fourth quarter in week one vs Oakland. Recorded his second best receiving day of his career in week two with 141 yards including a 35 yard touchdown catch against the Ravens. Against the Dolphins in week 3, Jackson lead in receiving with 120 yards for his first-career consecutive 100-yard games. Earned himself a game ball from Norv Turner against Miami...Recorded third touchdown of the season, week 6 at home against the Broncos. Finished the contest with four receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown. Week 7, posts a franchise record 142 receiving yards in the first half, including a 10-yard touchdown reception. In week eight, recorded 103 yards receiving, his fourth 100-yard game of the season and second week in a row including a five catch for 59 yards on his touchdown drive. It is the second time this season that Jackson has had back-to-back 100 yard outings. The last Chargers player to four 100-yard games in a season was Curtis Conway in 2001. Jackson's four 100-yard efforts in seven games is the best since Jeff Graham in 1999. Caught five passes for 58 yards with two touchdowns including a game winning 18-yard touchdown reception with 21 seconds left to play against the Giants in week 9. Marked a career best 4th straight game with a touchdown reception. Led the team in receiving in week 11 with 4 receptions for 56 yards. Finished week 14 contest with seven receptions for 120 yards agains the Dallas Cowboys. Had a pair of touchdown receptions of 21 and 34 yards from QB Philip Rivers in week 15 against the Bengals. Ended the day with five receptions for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns which put him over the 1000-yard recieving mark for the season. Inactive week 17 due to a foot injury.

  2008: USA Today All-Joe…Season-long 60-yard catch on 3rd-down in 4Q of ESPN MNF game Wk 3 vs. NY Jets...Chargers Alumni Offensive POM for October… 134 yards and TD in Oct. 12 NBC SNF win over NE for most receiving yards in game by Bolts’ WR since ’03 (David Boston vs. Cincinnati)…48 and 59-yard catches vs. Patriots...career-high 148 yards vs. Oakland in Dec. 4 NFL Network Thursday Night game, including 59-yard TD catch...10-yard GW TD catch in 4Q with 36 seconds remaining at KC Dec. 14…started GW drive with 42-yard catch on first play…late 2Q 25-yard catch Dec. 21 at TB put him over 1,000 yards for first time in career...it also set up team-record 57-yard FG by Nate Kaeding…scored game’s first TD on 41-yard catch in Jan. 11 AFC Divisional Playoff game at Pittsburgh…later had 43-yard diving catch on 3rd down in 2Q taken away by controversial replay challenge.

 2007: First-career 100-yard game (114) and first playoff TD in Jan. 6 AFC Wild Card Playoffs vs. Tennessee…went over 100 yards on 25-yard TD catch for first lead of game (10-6) with 2:35 remaining in 3Q…teamed with Chris Chambers (121 yards) to give Bolts first pair of WRs to go over 100 yards in playoff game since ’83…leading receiver in Jan. 13 AFC Divisional Playoffs at Indy, including 14-yard TD catch on 3rd down in 2Q…leading receiver as well in Jan. 20 AFC Championship Game at NE.

 2006: first-career TD catch vs. Tennessee Sept. 17 ...helped Chargers overcome 17-point deficit and take 28-27 lead at Denver Nov. 19 with five-yard TD catch in 4Q…season-long 55-yard catch in 4Q Dec. 10 vs. Denver…Chargers Alumni POW after KC game Dec. 17...GW 37-yard TD catch with 29 seconds remaining in 4Q of Dec. 24 win at Seattle…31-yard catch to three set up 4Q TD for 21-13 lead in AFC Divisional Playoffs vs. NE. 2005: First-career catch (18 yards) during 2Q TD drive in 31-26 win over NY Jets Nov. 6.

 COLLEGE: School record-holder with 177 catches, 3,548 yards, 37 TDs, 1,024 PR yards and 5,810 all-purpose yards…All-Great West Conference Offensive POY in ‘04 and first-team all-conference…school-record 80 catches and 1,952 all-purpose yards in 2004…led team to NCAA national semifinals as junior…second-team All-America by AP and Sports Network…school-records 1,462 yards and 21 TDs in ’03…Division I All-Independent selection during 2003-04 basketball season (13.6 ppg, 3.1 apg and 5.6 rpg)…career-high 25 points and seven assists in 2004 Senior Night victory over Johnson & Wales…UNC Student Athlete of Month for Dec. ’03…final hoops totals include 12.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 100 assists, 18 blocks and 40 steals…played in 42 games with 23 starts while shooting .490 from field, .313 from three-point range and .543 from free-throw line …played FB for Bears from 2001-04…business major.

 PERSONAL: Born in Fort Polk, Louisiana…honorable mention all-state as senior on gridiron at Widefield HS in Colorado Springs, Colorado…first-team all-conference and all-area...lettered in basketball.