Bengals’ top 2016 draft pick possesses ample size and dazzling speed, but spent season on Reserve/Injured list, due to pectoral muscle tear suffered early in training camp ... Led the nation in 2015 for Houston with a school-record 23 pass breakups and added a career-best five INTs, also leading nation in total passes defensed (28) ... Closed his career in style, earning Defensive MVP award in Houston’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl win over Florida State.
Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in first round of 2016 NFL Draft (24th overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 6-10-16.
2016 highlights: In practice on Aug. 1, suffered torn pectoral muscle tendon ... Placed on Reserved/Injured list on Sept. 4, as part of final preseason roster cutdown.
College: Played three seasons (2013-15) at Houston, seeing action in 39 games, with 28 starts ... Played in 2012 at Trinity Valley Community College (Athens, Texas) ... Houston career totals included eight INTs, 48 total passes defensed, 115 tackles, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles ... Though he played only three seasons, his 40 career pass breakups rank third in UH history ... Helped lead ’15 Cougars to a 13-1 record, tied for best in school history, and to best national ranking (eighth) since 1979 ... His five INTs in ’15 included two returned for TDs ... His Defensive MVP performance in ’15 season Peach Bowl win over Florida State included two INTs, two additional pass breakups and a career-high 10 tackles ... Set Houston single-game record in American Athletic Conference championship game win over Temple, logging seven pass breakups.
Fast start: In 2013, his first season at Houston, Jackson returned his first major college INT 96 yards for a TD, against Texas-San Antonio. Also in that game, he forced a fumble that a teammate recovered for a TD. Jackson was named Defensive Player of the Week in the American Athletic Conference.
https://twitter.com/fantastik_willoPersonal: Hometown is Houston, Texas ... Sociology major in college ... Hobbies include horseback riding ... A two-way standout at Houston’s Wheatley High School ... Earned first-team All District honors at DB as a junior and senior, and added 35 receptions for 626 yards and 10 TDs over the two seasons.
