Veteran Jackson a big asset to Thunder
Published on March 10, 2009 under American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) News Release
OREM, Utah ? With close to a decade of professional football of experience under his belt, Utah Valley Thunder wide receiver Quincy Jackson, 31, considers himself a player/coach.
After his two-year career at the University of Alabama, Jackson made stops in the NFL, AFL, XFL, CFL, AF2 and now the AIFA, and he is more than willing to pass along his football savvy.
"I have been able to adapt to a lot of different styles of football," he said. "I feel my career has been successful so I want to share that with the younger guys." Utah Valley Thunder coach Chad DeGrenier, who played with Jackson in Arizona last year, agrees. "He's got a wealth of knowledge, he?s a good communicator and is a great player," he said. "People listen to him and respect what he has to say. It's nice to have a guy like him playing and helping out the younger guys." Following a stellar season at the University of Alabama in 1998 where he tallied 50 catches for 641 yards and three touchdowns, Jackson began his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals. From there he went to the Albany Firebirds (AFL), Birmingham Thunderbolts (XFL), Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL), Birmingham Steelheads (AF2), Arizona Adrenaline (AIFA) and now he is preparing for his first season with the Thunder.
"I guess I have different things to offer now being this age," he said. "Earlier in my career I was more of a big-play guy. I can still make the big plays, but now I?m more of a coach trying to get these guys the opportunity to experience what I have already experienced." Last year he recorded 116 catches for 1,197 yards and 30 touchdowns for the Adrenaline, who finished 11-3 during the regular season before bowing out in the first round of the AIFA playoffs.
With those numbers he wasn?t quite ready to call it a career when the Adrenaline folded, so he landed with DeGrenier in Utah. "I feel like I still have a little gas in the tank,? said Jackson, who was a member of Eskimos when they won the Grey Cup in 2003. " I decided to give it another shot and it?s actually been paying off.? DeGrenier is certain to call on all facets of Jackson?s game this year. "Playing (at Arizona) with me last year he knows the play calls and is familiar with what I am trying to do," DeGrenier said. "He is an extension of myself on the field. He brings that quiet leadership." The Thunder open their inaugural season in Orem when they host the Wyoming Cavalry on Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m. at the McKay Events Center (aka The ThunderDome) located on the campus of Utah Valley University.
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