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Dec. 17, 2008
IUP senior linebacker Terrence Jackson has been named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team and has also been selected to participate in the Valero Cactus Bowl, the Division II all-star game. Earlier this fall, Jackson was chosen the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year and was on the all-conference first team for the third consecutive season. He was also the PSAC West Rookie of the Year and a second team all-league selection in 2005. Jackson led the Crimson Hawks in tackles for the third straight year with 69 and ranked 11th in the PSAC with an average of 7.7 tackles per game. He added 11 tackles for loss, two sacks and broke up three passes. Jackson had a season-high 10 tackles versus Slippery Rock and Gannon. Jackson spearheaded an IUP defense that led the PSAC and ranked in the top five nationally in scoring (11.4), rushing (76.1) and total (235.7) defense. The Crimson Hawks allowed an average of only 3.5 yards per play and opponents scored more than 20 points only twice in 10 games. In 40 games at IUP, Jackson made 271 tackles, 38 tackles for loss and six sacks. He grabbed five interceptions, including one with 1:35 remaining in the game that sealed a 45-35 win over West Chester in the opening round of the 2007 playoffs. Jackson added a 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown earlier that season versus East Stroudsburg. Jackson is the first IUP linebacker named to the AFCA All-America team since Mike Borisenko was honored in 2000. Jackson is the 15th different IUP player chosen to the AFCA squad, a total surpassed by only Texas A&M-Kingsville among all Division II teams. The Cactus Bowl will be played January 9, 2009 at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas. The game originated as the Snow Bowl in Fargo, N.D., before moving to its current home in 2001. There have been over 100 players drafted into the NFL who played in the Cactus Bowl. |
