"We are 1-3 so far," added Tim Jackson. "We just have to gel
with the new coaches. Our first two games, we pretty much got blown out and
then we lost in the last minute of the game the week before last. And then this
past Friday, we beat Pearl Harbor 37-3 so we are already getting better."
Jackson flipped sides at defensive end which has taken some getting use to.
"I am playing strong side this year. I am normally at weak side, so I
have been making the adjustments. I am taking on the double teams, but I am
doing better against the run this year. I am up to 222 now so that helps a lot.
I am stronger than last year. The run game is basically about power and staying
low, so I have been doing that."
What are the biggest improvements the All-Pinellas selection has seen in his
game?
"Pretty much the run game. I learned some more techniques to help me out
with my pass rush. I have 33 tackles 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles through four
games so far."
Jackson had a chance to take in his first official visit the weekend before
last.
"I went to Wake Forest when they played Elon College. It was a great visit.
They really impressed me with their coaches. They are great people. Coach Grub
is amazing. They take care of their players. I spent a lot of time with their
students just to see what the campus life is like. The players were great."
What impressed Tim the most about Wake Forest?
"The environment and how they treat their players on a normal basis. It
is a small school, but they are still playing big time ball in the ACC."
What was Jackson looking for before he came on the trip and what did he find
out about those issues?
"I wanted to take football out of the equation and see if I would want
to spend the next four or five years there and enjoy the atmosphere. It was
a different atmosphere than I am use to, to be honest. It is a lot smaller than
what I am use to. That could get some getting use to. It was OK, I guess."
Anymore official visits lined up?
"No, not yet. I will take one more official visit this fall. The other
three I will take after my season. My bye week is the second or third week in
October, and I have a few schools trying to get me in for that spot. I have
not made up my mind."
Like who?
"Auburn, Iowa State, and Ole Miss."
Has each school offered?
"Yes sir."
What is going on with Auburn?
"They are keeping in close contact with me. It is a good school. They have
had some success this Fall. Their offense is looking good, and their defense
is looking pretty good. I know I am going to take a visit there, but it might
be after the season. Same as Ole Miss. As far as Iowa State, they want me to
come during my bye. Jarvis West might be coming with me to Iowa State. If Ole
Miss offers Jarvis West, we are going to go over there and visit during our
bye, but they have not offered him yet. They are real close, but they have not
offered him yet. I just know that I am going to take that visit during my bye
with Jarvis."
Is this a package deal?
"Not at all. We only have a few schools who have offered both of us, like
Iowa State, FIU, and Indiana. We just want to go on that visit together during
our bye. You get a little bored when you take a visit by yourself, so it gives
you someone to talk to while you are on your visit."
If Ole Miss does offer Jarvis before the bye; you are taking your visit to the
University of Mississippi in October?
"Yes, that is it. If they do not offer Jarvis by the bye, I am going to
Auburn or Iowa State, and I can visit Ole Miss after the season. Ole Miss will
be in my Top 8 when ever I narrow it down to 8 schools, for sure. I just have
not narrowed things down yet. I will definitely take a visit to Ole Miss at
some point."
What stands out about Auburn?
"I like their tradition. It is a winning school. They are known to send
a lot of ends to the league. It is a border state to Florida so it is the closest
school I am looking at which is not located in Florida. I really wanted to see
how their season was going to go, and their new coach seems like he has it going
on, so they are going to be a team on the rise while I am in school."
And Ole Miss?
"Again, it is another great football school. They have had some success
the last couple of years since Coach Nutt got there. He is doing a great job.
They also have some defensive ends leaving this year, and they are looking for
some guys to come in and fill the void. Their defensive ends are doing great
in his system too. Greg Hardy should be a first rounder. It is just a great
football school. I just want to fly out there and see what it is all about."
Iowa State?
"It is different than the rest of the schools I am looking at. They are
in the Big 12. It is a big passing league and pass rushing is my forte. It is
different than the other schools because their people are really fired up around
there. They do not have a pro team out there so everyone is really into Iowa
State out there. They tell me the fans are really into recruiting, and when
I get out there, they will already know who I am when I get out there."
Stanford and Wake Forest were the early leaders for Tim, so what's up with the
Cardinals?
"They are still high on my list. I am just sitting back and waiting for
my visit. I am shooting for December to take my visit. They sent me my application
to get into school. It is kind of a hindrance right now because of school and
football both going on. I will see if it is worth it when I get out there."