Mayran "Julius" Jackson's Stock

[Kendrick]

Mayran Jackson is not a household name yet in professional Football. When the NSFL gets underway though, the West Virginia Mountaineers alumni will be one of the most talked about defensive prospects to have been drafted. Mayran Jackson is a playmaker on the field and a caregiver off of it. Jackson devotes his time to a senior's home during the summer to help the elderly who once saved his life. As a little boy Jackson grew up in Harpers Ferry to James Jackson and Meredith Klarows. One day in February of 1999 the city of Harpers ferry was put on high alert as a child kidnapper had been released from prison and was told to have been moving back to his small house in Harpers Ferry. The Jackson's had moved to Harpers Ferry while the kidnapper was doing time so they were unaware of the story behind the name in the news. One day in February upon release, the kidnapper was driving along a side street and pulled up on a young boy. That young boy was young Mayran Julius Jackson who was on his way back from school. The man had asked Mayran if he needed a lift and Jackson had turned it down as his mother gave him the stranger speech all too common for kids.

Next thing you know Mayran Jackson was in full sprint on his way to the farthest spot from that 1991 Chrysler Le Baron's front hood. Jackson went to the closest building he could find which happened to be the Harpers Ferry Retirement Home. The caretakers there pulled him in and heard his story before phoning the local authorities. Mayran Jackson felt forever in debt to the people and workers at the Retirement Home.

Jackson is now a former West Virginia University football player but he hopes to go back next summer and finish his degree in Human Resources. The NSFL is the next thing he has his sights set on and he is hoping that teams recognize that he puts effort in away from the field as well. Jackson was a Mountaineers captain on defense and vocal leader on and off the field. Mayran's knack for making the big play is what scouts caught wind of and sure enough he has had several NSFL scouts and General Managers contact him on playing for their teams.

"I think going to the NSFL has a lot of advantages for me because the NFL is an established league and if the NSFL doesn't pan out, I have the chance to catch no with an NFL team. I'm not really clear on the whole rights thing in regards to the NSFL and NFL drafts, but I would assume it is something like the old USFL's rights contracts", said Mayran on the draft topic.

Jackson brings up a good point as the USFL used to draft players and the NFL could draft the same players out of college and the team/league who offered more money often times got the player at their price. Jackson realizes that getting drafted into the NSFL is not the be all end all, but it is a start for his professional journey.

"I don't really know what to expect but I do know as a east coast boy, I'd love to stay out east. Arizona is too hot for me as I don't do the greatest in muggy hot weather. I need a wetter climate but one that doesn't cause me to be too far from my family. Family is a huge deal for me as I rely on talking to my parents after every game and getting a chance to bring them in to watch me play on occasion. My mother doesn't really enjoy the violence of Football but she does allow for me to play it. My dad played high school ball so he is very interested and I'm sure he will let me know of what places he prefers in both the NSFL and NFL when the time comes", added Jackson on the way out of the media room.

The NSFL draft is just around the corner and scouts are saying Jackson isn't even the top safety on the board but only time will tell us if that is the case. Look for Jackson to try and go All-Pro regardless of where he ends up.