Jefferson’s T.Q. Jackson Takes Offensive MVP for Second Straight Year

T.Q. Jackson wanted more.

Jackson, a 2019 receiver at Jefferson, didn't have to come to the sixth-annual ETSN Combine on Sunday at APEC. He won the Offensive MVP in 2017. He has a litany of college offers ranging from Arkansas to Minnesota. He had nothing left to prove.

But when 9 a.m. rolled around and registration began, Jackson and his teammates were the first ones through the door. In the receiver drills, he didn't drop a pass. His numbers (4.53 40-yard dash, 34.5-inch vertical, 113.5-inch broad jump) were among the best.

Jackson didn't have to come, but he did. He again proved his name belongs among the top recruits in East Texas.

"I really just wanted to come out here and showcase my skills," he said. "I also wanted to come out and compete with the best in East Texas."

Jackson admitted that his 40 time was slower than he hoped, which he credits to added weight. He weighed in at 188 and was measured as 6-foot-2. Although the weight might have slowed him down, it helped him in the strength portions of the combine, he said. He got nine reps of 185 on the bench and put up a 2,638 on the Kaiser squat.

In addition to Arkansas and Minnesota, Jackson holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas State, Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Missouri, North Texas, Purdue, SMU, Southern Miss, UTSA and Tulsa.

He said Arkansas has been recruiting him the hardest and he expects to cut his list down to five soon. As far as what he's looking for in his potential college, a good football program isn't the only thing that matters.

"Most of all academics because of life after football," Jackson said. "But I want to go to a place where I have a great shot at getting playing time as a freshman and I want to have a great relationship with the coaches."

Whatever school he chooses can be certain of one thing: Jackson won't settle. He made that much clear on Sunday.

2018 ETSN Combine Offensive MVPs

Overall Offensive MVP — T.Q. Jackson, 2019, WR, Jefferson

Height: 6-2

Weight: 188

40: 4.53 (2.65, 1.58)

Pro agility: 4.46

Broad jump: 113.5”

Vertical: 34.5”

Bench press (185 lbs.): 9

Kaiser squat: 2638

QB — Jake Smith, 2020, Nacogdoches

Height: 6-2 1/2

Weight: 187

40: 5.05 (2.93, 1.75)

Pro agility: 4.31

Broad jump: 96”

Vertical: 30”

Bench press (185 lbs.): 8

Kaiser squat: 2,323

RB — TK Hamilton, 2019, Waskom

Height: 5-10 1/2

Weight: 161

40 (20, 10): 4.47 (2.52, 1.43)

Pro agility: 4.60

Broad jump: 113”

Vertical: 36”

Bench press (225 lbs.): 3

Kaiser squat: 1,923

WR — Cameron Cantrell, 2019, Whitehouse

Height: 6-1 1/2

Weight: 179

40: 4.66 (2.63, 1.54)

Pro agility: 3.96

Broad jump: 126”

Vertical: 40.5”

Bench press (185 lbs.): 14

Kaiser squat: 3,474

OL — Riley Birdwell, 2020, Nacogdoches

Height: 6-4 1/2

Weight: 338

40: 5.49 (3.11, 1.82)

Pro agility: 5.30

Broad jump: 84”

Vertical: 23”

Bench press (225 lbs.): 10

Kaiser squat: 3,535