Football: Finding his own arena

Tony Altobelli

LOS ANGELES - If football can be compared to starting out in life,

Orange Coast College taught wide receiver Chris Jackson how to walk in

1994. Six year’s later, he’s now in a full sprint in the Arena Football

League, starring for the expansion Los Angeles Avengers.

“It’s been a lot of fun playing again close to home,” Jackson said. “I’ve

got a wife and a couple of kids and to be able to have them come to all

the games and for them to know where I’ll be each week, it’s awesome.”

Jackson’s appearance in professional football came after he first stepped

onto a football field at OCC and later at Washington State.

After stellar basketball and track and field careers at Mater Dei High,

then a brief hoops stint at UC Riverside, Jackson became a Pirate and

played football at the request of friend, Michelangelo Barragan.

“He was playing there at the time and he convinced me to go out and give

it a shot,” Jackson said.

As a Pirate in 1994, Jackson put together a solid season, catching 37

passes for 743 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I remember a couple of those big-play touchdowns from C.J.,” Pirates

Coach Mike Taylor said. “He’s got loads of talent and is one of the best

receivers to come out of OCC in the last 15 years.”

Not too shabby for someone who had never played the game before.

“OCC taught me the fundamentals of football and how to use my raw

talent,” Jackson said. “When I was at OCC, I had no thoughts of ever

playing football professionally.”

After spending one year at OCC, Jackson landed at WSU, where he became

one of the Cougars’ top targets for standout quarterback Ryan Leaf.

The 6-foot-2, 204-pound Jackson set a Cougar record for touchdown

receptions in a single season (11) and caught five passes for 89 yards

against Michigan in the 1998 Rose Bowl.

“OCC allowed me to play at the Pac-10 level and helped me get one step

closer to earning my degree,” Jackson said.

After his career at Washington State, Jackson played for the Berlin

Thunder of NFL Europe and was signed as a free agent by the NFL Seattle

Seahawks, but was eventually released.

Following that, Jackson tried his hand in the AFL and it has worked out

very well -- for both him and the Avengers.

“We’re the only football team in town, so it’s very important to give the

fans a great show every week,” Jackson said.

Heading into Friday’s game at Houston, Jackson led the Avengers in all

receiving categories, including completions (61), yards (850) and

touchdowns (16).

“The AFL is really geared toward the offense, which suits me just fine,”

Jackson said. “Now I’m in a situation where the politics of professional

football are involved. I’m practicing every day, I’m playing every day

and I’m a lot more comfortable.”

Another facet of the game Jackson is getting under his belt is defense,

playing defensive back for the Avengers.

“It’s been good for the most part,” Jackson said. “I did some tackling

when I was on special teams throughout my career. Fortunately I’ve got

guys who can protect me out there. I’m pretty much a safety valve on

defense.”

Already among the top receivers in the AFL as a rookie, Jackson uses his

size and hands to his advantage.”

“I think one of my biggest strengths is my route running,” Jackson said.

“I may not have the pure speed that the fast NFL receivers have, but

neither does Jerry Rice, or some other elite receivers.”

The Avengers, after dropping their first seven games, won two of three,

including Sunday’s 63-49 triumph over Florida. Jackson caught four passes

for 54 yards and gave the club the lead for good with a fourth-quarter

touchdown catch from quarterback Todd Marinovich.

“Heading into this season, I wanted to be the best receiver on the team,”

he said. “I’ve always believed in myself and to be the best of the best,

you have to believe.”

Jackson hopes his success in the AFL will lead him back to the NFL.

“It’s definitely a dream of mine,” Jackson said. “I think I have the

skills to play at that level. I’m doing all I can from my side and my

agent is doing all he can on his side. A lot of it is in God’s hands,

too.”