There aren’t many football players in the Augusta area who single-handedly mean more to their team than Aquinas senior Clark Jackson.
If you add up the total yardage, total tackles and the full accumulation of stats Jackson has piled up over the last three years, you might need a staple and a few sheets of extra paper in order to properly account for it.
But Jackson’s more than just a stat-sheet stuffer. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior is preparing for his last season in an Aquinas uniform. And though his career has been full of ups and downs, in many ways, Jackson has enjoyed being the heart and soul of his football team.
With just about three weeks away from the Fighting Irish’s August 18 season opener against Jefferson, Jackson says he’s injury free and ready to make his last year his best — not just for himself, but for his team.
We got the chance to chat with Aquinas’ “slash” player, and he talked with us about everything from the origin of his passion for football to what Aquinas has meant to him and what he’s hoping for when it comes time to pick a college.
Stovall: What got you interest in playing football in the first place?
Jackson: “I was introduced into football at an early age when I played flag football at the Richmond County rec department. At first, I wasn’t very into it, but step-by-step, I started to enjoy the sport more and more after each practice. I’ve always loved being outside and doing something productive, so at first, playing football just became another hobby. But once I got a little older and started playing tackle ball, it started to become more enjoyable for me. I started to learn how the game really works.”
Stovall: How has playing at Aquinas helped deepen that love for the game?
Jackson: “Football is a progression thing. No matter how good you are at it, you can always get better. So playing at Aquinas, it helped me love the game more because it not only let me grow up and taught me how to push through, but how to get better at something you really love. Playing at Aquinas has also taught me how important it is to stick together like a family.”
Stovall: After almost four complete years at Aquinas where you’ve been filling up stat sheets, what has you most excited about entering your senior year?
Jackson: “I’d say the most exciting thing about going into my senior year would be just about how well our team bonds with each other right now, and also just the thought of competing against other teams.”
Stovall: In what ways have you specifically grown as a football player and as a young man since you first stepped foot onto campus as a freshman?
Jackson: “Honestly, I’ve grown as a football player and a young man since being at Aquinas because being here has taught me how to push through whenever you think you have nothing left.”
Stovall: Speaking of pushing through, you’ve battled some injuries over the last couple of seasons. How healed do you feel you are now coming into this senior campaign?
Jackson: “Despite the injuries I’ve had along the way, I’m actually going into my senior year where I feel back to 100 percent. That’s making me really ready to get back on the field with no problems.”
Stovall: You literally play all over the field for this Aquinas team. How did that come to be your role on this team? And what do you do specifically to keep yourself conditioned well enough to play as much as you do?
Jackson: “My coaches see my capability to move all over the field, so they move me around in order to best benefit the team. Our coaches also move other guys around on the field to help us out as well. But to stay conditioned, really, we all just push each other at practice. We make sure we are all going 110 percent with every rep we take.”
Stovall: When high school ball is over, do you plan on playing in college? What scholarship offers or interested have you received, and what kind of school would you want to attend?
Jackson: “I would absolutely love to play in college. As of right now, I do not have any offers. But if I could choose, I’d want to go to Georgia Southern, South Carolina, Eastern Carolina and Samford.”
Stovall: In what ways do you feel your senior year can be different both for your personally and for your team?
Jackson: “I feel like my senior will be very productive with this class. I think our senior class is the closest and has the most consistency over the years.”
