NEW IBERIA (KATC) — There are few football players born a linemen, but end up playing Division I ball as a running back. Westgate’s Tyreese Jackson fits that bill.
This isn’t a story of a 300 pound running back (yes that’s a thing this season at Kaplan) Jackson, instead was always one of the bigger kids on his team growing up. As a kid he played in the trenches, but really began running the ball in 8th grade.
Today he stands at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds and would make a good size linemen, instead he’s a thick, powerful running back with power five scholarships offers to Virginia, West Virginia and Kansas. As a freshman he cemented his role as one of the Tigers’ stars, earning the first of three all-district honors. His background on the line shows as a blocker.
"At the college level you have to block," the senior back said. "They don’t want a running back that can just run the ball… Most of the time we have to block a defensive end, so like, I played the end and know what they’re doing, know what kind of angles they want to take."
"When he goes and blocks guys he knows how to position his hands, body placement and different things like that, angle block guys," said Tigers’ running backs coach Randall Antoine. "He definitely utilizes that as a talent."