Bears select Alabama safety Eddie Jackson in the fourth round
Eddie Jackson's senior year at Alabama was cut short by a broken leg, but the Bears' fourth-round pick doesn't expect that injury to affect him in 2017.
Jackson suffered his injury Oct. 22 returning a punt against Tennessee and missed the rest of Alabama's season.
"I'm just ready to get there and work with the training staff at the Bears," Jackson said. "I know I'm gonna be ready for training camp 100 percent, no limitations."
When healthy, Jackson was an electric playmaker — nine interceptions, 12 pass breakups and five total touchdowns — who worked initially as a cornerback and later as a safety at Alabama. Two of those scores came in 2016 as a punt returner, a position where he could make an immediate impact for the Bears.
"(The Bears) told me they liked me as a returner," Jackson, who averaged 23 yards per punt return, said. "That's one of the things they want to try me at, or see how well I do. All I've got to say is I'm just ready to come in and compete and work. You know, take advantage of every opportunity that's given to me right now."
Jackson moreso fits a Bears need as a rangy free safety, though he wasn't a sure tackler with 16 missed tackles in 122 attempts from 2014-2016, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition to those nine interceptions (six of which came in his junior year), Jackson broke up 12 passes in four years, and in 2016, he limited opposing quarterbacks to a 38.3 passer rating when they threw his way.
And Jackson turned three of his interceptions into touchdowns. For some context: Malik Hooker, the Colts' 15th overall pick who was regarded as the best "center fielder" safety prospect this year, had three touchdowns on seven college interceptions.
"When I get the ball, I feel like I turn into a receiver," Jackson said. "It's my mindset. I don't think about going out of bounds, or think about going down, I think about touchdowns."
The Bears only intercepted eight passes as a team last year, a void the team began to address with the signing of Quintin Demps (six interceptions in 2016) in March. Jackson will push Adrian Amos, who doesn't have an interception in over 1,800 career plays.
"I just feel like wherever I'm needed I can do it all," Jackson said. "I'll have good coaching they can teach me what I need to be taught and they talked to me about playing safety and special teams. I'm just looking forward to come out there and earn a spot and hopefully take us to a Super Bowl. It's possible."
Source: www.bing.com