Brandal Jackson is one of a few Texas A&M freshmen receivers making their presence felt early in the 2009 season. Jackson, who played high school football less than 30 miles from Kyle Field in Navasota, has had an opportunity to show off his abilities because of an injury to Jeff Fuller. Jackson talks about his role, his ability and a few memories from his days as a Rattler receiver.
Q: How did you feel about getting your first touchdown and having four catches in a big game against Arkansas?
A: Knowing that Jeff has been hurt, I knew I had to step up to the plate. I picked the right game, but every game I need to step up and show the coaches I'm as good as Jeff and I can do what he can do. At Jerry's World, that was nice. I just have to show [head coach Mike Sherman] that I'm capable enough to go out and do it, that I'm strong enough to do it. Coach is always talking to us about catching the ball, and as a freshmen you need to step up and be a man, and I showed them I can do it.
Q: Coach Sherman said in your run-through he told you that you were going to score in the Arkansas game. Do you remember that conversation?
A: He just talked to me about sticking in there. Every other freshman had scored, but basically I don't care about scoring, just getting the catches and the first downs that we need. Scoring is a a great opportunity for me. He talked to me about how I'll get my chance to score, and that play just happened.
Q: What do you remember about the 60-yard touchdown reception against Arkansas?
A: Coach [Nolan] Cromwell is always saying never give up on a play, and it was just a busted play. I wasn't even in the picture. Obviously, the defensive line got back there and [quarterback Jerrod Johnson] had to scramble. I really didn't want Jerrod to get hit or throw the ball away and waste a down, so I just scrambled out with him to make sure he saw me. Once he saw me, he threw it, and I'll catch anything coming my way whether I get hit or not. I just knew for a fact I was going to score because I was behind the defender and he made a great throw over him. I just had to run.
Q: What's it like having Johnson as a quarterback?
A: He's got a good arm, and he loves throwing the ball downfield. Especially for a guy like me coming out of Navasota, all I did was go downfield, I really like that. Earlier in the season, I saw him do something really crazy. I was running, and they were blitzing and he was going to the left again and I was just right in the middle. While he was running, he just threw it to the right without even looking. He just knew I was there and I was like, 'Whoa!' I never knew he could do stuff like that. He's a great player.
Q: What did coach Mike Sherman tell the team after the loss to Arkansas?
A: He just came in and told us straight up that he never had any players like us and just to keep fighting. He said last year, guys would have been giving up, but that we just kept fighting back, and he said he was so proud of us for doing that.
Q: Did you choose A&M because you were a fan?
A: Really, it was my parents telling me about my grades. They always put football to the side and think about my grades and my degree, and I would say Texas A&M is the No. 1 school to go to and get a degree, so I chose A&M. Another reason was some of the recruits that came in with me. I felt like I was good around them and being around the players that were already on the team. They convinced me to come.
Q: How did Navasota head coach Lee Fedora help you prepare for college football:
A: I keep up with him. He's just like a father to me. He keeps me on track, gets on me when I'm doing bad. Coming to a D-1, he really helped me because I wasn't really thinking about playing football and all that, but he encouraged me into sticking in there. [Our scheme] was good, because he ran the spread, and basically the plays we ran were simple, but what he did that helped me was he signaled the plays in, and now I come to A&M and we do nothing but signals, so I believe that helped me most.
Q: What do you remember most about the 42-20 playoff victory over Jasper while you were at Navasota?
A: It was real cold. Getting off the bus, I was thinking we are just going to do what we've got to do. I always get nervous. Once we stepped on the field, everything turned for us, everything went down. Then I remember Trey Rausheck, he got an interception and it got our feeling back. Going into halftime, we had a guy, Seth Parker, he was the team leader, and he got on us, got on the quarterback and everything. I knew I didn't do anything in the first half, and coming out in the second half I felt I needed to help the team, so everything they threw my way, I caught it. The last play, Jacolby [Stokes] just threw it up for grabs and Jacolby knew I was capable of going up and getting it, and I got it over two defenders for the first down, and that's when we won the game.
Q: What's it going to be like for the Navasota fans on Saturday with you and former Rattler running back Dexter Pratt playing for Oklahoma State?
A: It's really exciting. We have our hometown 20 minutes down the road. They are all going to come and support us or watch it on TV. It's a great competition with me and Dexter. Now we are going against each other, so I know people will want to see that.
Q: What have been the benefits of playing behind Jeff Fuller?
A: Two-a days, it was tough. I thought I was not gong to make it, but I hung in there every play. Playing behind Jeff, he encouraged me to go out there and do what I had to do, so every play I give it my best. We are similar, and I've got to show them that if Jeff goes down, like he is now, they can count on me to go in, and if he needs a break, whatever he's doing, I'm going to go out there and do the same thing.
-- Richard Croome
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