Miami takes Jackson in Round 3 Saturday, April 18, 1998
The Cincinnati Enquirer
UC linebacker Brad Jackson couldn't be happier with the results of Saturday's NFL draft.
LB Brad Jackson returns one of his two interceptions in the Humanitarian Bowl.
(Idaho Statesman photo)
| ZOOM |''It feels great to be draftee. It feels even better to be a Miami Dolphin,'' Jackson said Saturday after going to the Dolphins in the third round with the 79th pick overall. ''I'm just more than happy to be going to team that's continuing to rise.''
Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson said of Jackson: "He's a hard-core special teams player . . . We crosschecked him with our coaches and everybody just fell in love with the guy. He has a tremendous motor."
Dolphins defensive coordinator George Hill, who will get Jackson in the mix at strong outside backer, called Jackson the best coverage linebacker in the draft.
Jackson, at 6-foot-2, 228-pounds, was a first-team all-Conference USA selection last season. He was rated as a sixth- or seventh-rounder but boosted his stock with a big senior year, with 168 tackles.
Brad Jackson
Jackson, who came to Cincinnati from Akron Firestone High School, said the Dolphins were among two or three teams he wanted to play for and he was looking forward to working for coach Jimmy Johnson.
Jackson said he was confident he would go in the first three rounds.
''I wasn't getting too nervous. I was going to go wherever God wanted me to go,'' he said. ''I just wanted to go some place where I can have fun, run around and hit people.''
Johnson will get his chance at the Dolphins minicamp next weekend.
Five Bearcats drafted
Fabini, Ransom, Monroe taken on second day
Hawkins drafted by Bengals
