Tulsa World: Up close: Brian Jackson

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Up close: Brian Jackson

OU's Brian Jackson (left) and Lendy Holmes take down Cincinnati running back Jacob Ramsey on Saturday in Norman. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 9/11/2008 2:13 AM
Last Modified: 9/11/2008 3:06 AM

NORMAN — Oklahoma's last game against Washington was rough on Brian Jackson. And weird. Here he was, a Sooner freshman cornerback, and now he was supposed to imitate option-running Husky quarterback Isaiah Stanback at practice?

That was the situation two years ago, when after he found his defense guilty of poor tackling against UAB in the '06 opener, Brent Venables asked his defense to do better against Jackson.

"Brian was a high school quarterback early in his career," Venables said then. "He's big and physical. He's got some good quickness. He's not your typical scout team quarterback.

"He's getting rag-dolled a little bit. But you can see, 'OK, we didn't get that corrected yet.' "

Jackson's sacrifice paid big dividends. The following Saturday, Stanback gained 18 yards on 12 carries as the Sooners rolled 37-20.

Since, Jackson has put the skills he showed on the scout team to use in other areas. Like special teams, where he made a team-high 12 tackles last year covering kickoffs.

And now, defense, where he is OU's starting cornerback opposite the receiver lined up on the short side of the line of scrimmage.

After a season-opening wipeout of Chattanooga Aug. 30, coach Bob Stoops said: "Brian had a great game. He didn't have that many opportunities, but he was in position all day, broke up a few balls that he was challenged on. He played as well as anybody out there."

Jackson was just as solid in his second start last Saturday against Cincinnati, even if it was wide-side corner and former Union player Dominique Franks who scored the first interception of the year.

You know Dom is going to get all the publicity for that pick?

He gets a lot more action. I don't know why.

Maybe because quarterbacks have learned not to mess with you?

They sure shouldn't want to mess with him, either. Kudos to Dom, even though I did harass him. I'm real glad about that. Maybe I'll get my hands on one the next week or so.

What is there to do in DeSoto?

I usually hang out with my mom, and my fiance. Her name is LaTosha Duffey. She plays basketball at Texas-Arlington.

When's the wedding?

Next Christmas. We got engaged June 6th.

How did you pop the question?

I kind of tricked her. She had come up here to visit. One of her friends was going to take her home, and I told her she left her bag in her room. She ran back in there and got it, and as she came back out I was on the stairwell on a knee.

Were you nervous?

Very.

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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