Boo Jackson traveled a long way to get to Athens, but he still has much further to go before his real talent shows.
The junior-college transfer traveled more than 2,300 miles from El Camino junior college in Torrance, Calif., to compete with Theo Scott for the starting quarterback job. Not only does he have to digest a new playbook and a new part of the country, but he also must adjust to a new school.
I'm getting pretty used to it
Jackson said. These first couple of weeks I had to find everything all my classes Chubb Hall and all these places
so it's definitely a slow process right now. But after everything cools down
I'll be all right.
Making the transition a little easier is the fact that former teammate, safety Hilton Dawson, III, came to Ohio with him.
While Dawson and Jackson were at El Camino, Dawson said that the two hit it off right away. They are now roommates and helping each other get acclimated.
We kind of got out on our own and did a little traveling around Athens
Dawson said. I pick his brain and he picks mine
and it's helping.
Jackson came into spring practice as a highly touted, four-star quarterback. Last season he was 134-of-223 for 2,235 yards with 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions, leading his team to a conference championship. The year before that, he led his team to a state title.
But there are some differences between the junior college level and Division I-A.
Definitely the tempo
Jackson said. Out here it's more physical
(there's) more conditioning and more everything.
Much like Scott did last season, Boo has taken his lumps this spring.
Jackson is a more pocket-oriented quarterback than Scott and the option that coach Frank Solich likes to run has taken some getting used to.
He is also working on getting the timing right between himself and his receivers.
He is what we thought we were getting
quarterbacks coach Gerry Gdowski said. He has a really strong arm. I think he can do some athletic things
and for a guy that has been on campus and has never thrown a ball with any of our guys until a little over a week ago
