With injury woes behind him, Oregon’s Adrian Jackson aiming for more consistency in 2021

For all the talent Oregon has in its linebacker room, Adrian Jackson hopes that he can bring something entirely unique to the table.

“I’m trying to bring juice,” Jackson said with a smile Wednesday. “I’m trying to bring physicality, and I try to bring speed. I try to bring something different that nobody has seen at this position yet.”

As he enters his fourth season at Oregon, Jackson is, for the first time in a long time, entirely healthy. It’s something the sophomore outside linebacker does not take for granted. 

Last season, Jackson thrived as a situation player at times — particularly in dime packages. The Ducks have the ability to mix-and-match Jackson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Bradyn Swinson and a host of other talented EDGE players in specific scenarios. 

“We really like Adrian. He’s a very talented guy,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said Tuesday. “He’s worked hard to get himself into really good condition, put some more mass on his body, and right now he is a situational player.

“We’ve got to continue working with him to make him an every-down player. Because of what he has flashed on first and second down in terms of power-setting edges and destroying blocks really. It’s really impressive.”

Now playing under his third defensive coordinator in four seasons in Eugene, Jackson believes that what he learned from Andy Avalos will be extremely beneficial as he operates in Tim DeRuyter’s scheme this fall.

He is eager to make up for lost time and ready to prove that he’s capable of making an impact on an every-down basis. 

“I’ve got to be more consistent,” Jackson said. “That’s what I’ve really been working on. My consistency wasn’t as good in 2020 as it was before. This year, as I’m getting older, I’m starting to get my football IQ up and am aiming to be more consistent, for sure.”

Healthy at last

As a true freshman in 2018, Jackson strung together his only healthy season to date, and thrived. He played in 12 games, started two, and racked up 13 tackles. But he suffered a foot injury days before that 2019 season-opener that ended his season. 

In 2020, he was a disruptive presence when healthy, but foot injuries hindered him yet again. 

An injury to his left foot was what derailed his 2019 season, and he said he suffered the same injury to his right foot last year. But that injury did not require surgery, and he said the extended acclimation period of the 2021 preseason camp has helped keep him healthy this month.

“Ever since, both of my feet are back and ready,” Jackson said. “They’re healed at 100 percent now.”

So what does the “juice” that Jackson hopes to bring this season look like? According to those who watch him go to work each day, it’s an electric first step and an elite ability to shed blockers. 

“It’s got to be consistent. That’s what we’re working on,” Cristobal said. “We’re very encouraged with all the things we’re seeing. We’re going to press Adrian really, really hard and we’re going to test him to the max.

“Because for our team to be really good, Adrian has to play his best football consistently, on every single down. That’s our commitment to him right now. I believe he’s committed to it as well. I’m excited to keep challenging him and see the result.”