DE Malik Jackson (#97) will be a Volunteer in 2010
The Trojan nation is starting to feel the wake of the NCAA’s sanctions on USC. According to the L.A. Times, the latest upperclassman to defect is DE Malik Jackson. The reserve DE packed his bags over the weekend and left Lane Kiffin and Tinseltown for none other than Tennessee. As a result of USC’s infractions, Jackson will not have to sit out the mandatory one season per NCAA transfer rules. He can play immediately.
When asked about transferring, Jackson said it had nothing to do with the sanctions, but rather it had to do with more playing time as there is a spot open on Tennessee’s line.
“It wasn’t that [USC’s sanctions] at all,” Jackson said. “I didn’t really care about that. I was playing with my buddies, but Tennessee hit me up and they said they needed help at the end spot, that I could come in and help them.
“That sounded better than where I felt I was at with USC.”
This will be a big boost for 1st year defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox and head coach Derek Dooley. As a reserve with USC, Jackson showed that he is a beast on the end and will shine playing SEC ball. The Vol Nation couldn’t be more pleased with the acquisition of Jackson and the fact that he came from Lane Kiffin’s program makes it that much sweeter. Oh the karma…
