Blue 38, Orange 35
MODERATOR: All right, joined by Ja'Kobi Jackson.
Q. Ja'Kobi, how did you feel about your performance day and getting off in the spring game.
JA'KOBI JACKSON: It was pretty good performance, I would say. My O-line did a great job today and it wasn't really much I had to do but just run full speed and run straight, so, yeah, great day.
Q. You had to do some things on that 90-yard touchdown, though.
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Yeah, a few tackles, made a little something happen, so, yeah. Pretty exciting.
Q. How had this spring gone for you? We've heard from a lot of players and coaches that you have established yourself as a leader on the team. How have you done that?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Just by continuous work and just but leading the young guys, per group, like reps. I'm trying to be in the front. I'm trying to show them how the drill goes and everything, so just communicating what we're trying to do here and that's the main goal.
Q. And we hear you're a vocal leader?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Yeah, very vocal. I like to trash talk. I like positive talk. All through and through, so.
Q. What did you think about the offense in general and how you guys performed?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Very explosive. I think we did a great job passing and running the ball today, protecting the QB, offensive line did a great job blocking up front and we had us a day today, I can say.
Q. First I got to ask, Jack Cheese, where does the nickname come from?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Coach Juluke one day, he just like... he called me Jack Cheese and then it's just been up from there. Some time last year he called me that and then the whole facility called me that.
Q. Coach was saying that the Orange team had some injuries on the D-line before the game. As a running back, how excited did that make you knowing that you could capitalize on that?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Not really much excited. I mean, I felt like even if they weren't hurt, I would probably still do what I do, but pretty exciting still to be able to do it.
Q. And then obviously the basketball team God honored halftime. How cool was that just to have them in the building and just everything that they've been through and how that can motivate you guys this season?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Oh, yeah, definitely. Knowing that they won a National Championship, that's our main goal, what we want to continue to work hard towards and just having them here today was very exciting to see them and I was very excited to see them since they won a Natty.
Q. Yeah, I'm curious coming from a smaller school in Pensacola, then going to JUCO route, how much on a chip on your shoulder do you have? How has that fuelled you to this point?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Yeah, it fuelled me more before I got here, but it it's still fuelling me every day when I'm here I. just want to continue to work. I just want everybody to know me as a person, I'm going to come in every day and work. I'm not going to complain, not too much to worry about when it comes to me.
Q. How much progress have you made from when you first arrived in games until now, thinking back to your first spring?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Crazy, because I didn't even have a spring my first -- I got here in like June. So just now and then is totally different, I would say tremendously different. I would just say I learned the system. I know the system now, so really just learning the system and just becoming better every day, that's what I thrive on.
Q. And what did it mean for you to have a breakout year last year and get the opportunity to play and show what you can do?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Just staying patient, you know? Listening to my coaches every day knowing that injuries can happen and when it comes, you got to step up and that's all I wanted to do last year was step up. If the team needed me, that's all I did, so.
Q. What did you learn from Montrell Johnson?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: I just learned how toe a pro, really. Day by day, how to take care of my body, how to come in and watch film. Really much of everything.
Q. And what has Coach Juluke taught you and how has he helped your game develop?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Coach Juluke really has just taught me how to be, like, more just basically learning the system. Like I didn't really know too much football coming from junior college so I didn't really know too much defenses and everything and calls and blitzes, so really just teaching me the fundamentals of again but on, like, on a higher level, I would say.
Q. Who do you trash talk with the most on the team?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: I trash talk with DD and I would say Sharif Denson.
Q. What are those exchanging like?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Really just oh, he'll hit-stick me, I'ma stiff-arm him, so really just trash talking, he'll hit-stick me, I'll shake him, or something like that, so. Pretty much just regular ol' trash talking.
Q. I got to ask you about Dallas. I mean, you and him had kind of the breakout performances today. What can you say about him?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Very explosive. He's learned the system. That's what I'm saying, he's learned the system. He's still explosive and very athletic I would say. He's a great ballplayer. Excited to play this year with him and excited to see what he's going to do for the University of Florida.
Q. What kind of contrast do you think -- he's a big guy, especially for a freshman, then someone like Vernell, obviously has the speed, those newcomers, kind of the contrasting styles and how much can they help the receiving corps this season?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Definitely make the receiver room more versatile, I would say, just because having young guys who can come in there and take the top off or they can block for the wide receivers and the running backs or they can run routes so I would say it's great to have every young guy we have on the team right now.
Q. And then just offensive line, how much did out help today, first time kind of going out there and being, like, everyone's back from last year, which doesn't almost happen, almost everyone is back. How much now being out there today did you realize that that helps?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Yeah, having a vet O-line, that's what I said at the beginning, like it's not too much you really have to do. They know their assignment, they know what we're trying to do every play, so very great to have those guys back this year.
Q. What's it like playing with Jadan Baugh?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Jadan Baugh is great. We compete every day. That's my guy. We don't hold nothing against each other. Whenever we do something wrong or something we don't think we should do, we'll be like, hey, man, you could have did this and we take it like that and just go on with it. Every day is a competition and we come in ready to work every day.
Q. What type of one-two punch do you think you guys can be again this year and do you think you guys can be the best in the SEC?
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Yeah, I definitely think we can be one of the best in the SEC if not the best. Just power and explosive, explosive plays, that's what we're going to bring to the table this year.
Q. Saw today.
JA'KOBI JACKSON: Yes, sir.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports