Video: Ben Jackson's highlights vs. Beddingfield
See Ben Jackson in action for South Granville High.As a freshman and sophomore on the
South Granville (Creedmoor, N.C.) varsity football team,
Ben Jackson played quarterback. The next year, he started on the offensive line and this season, Jackson is starting at defensive end.
"He kind of outgrew it, to be honest with you," South Granville coach Mike Hobgood said. "He just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger. We went to the triple option and this kind of fit him better from that standpoint."
It's Jackson's ability to adapt to situations that Hobgood loves about his senior leader.
Jackson boasts a 3.8 grade point average.
Courtesy photo
"He's a good athlete and just being intelligent helps a lot with that, understanding schemes and so forth," said Hobgood, who has coached Jackson for three years. "He has a good work ethic, so all that kind of plays into where you know he'll play wherever is needed and do a good job at it."
Jackson's versatility is an important part of his game. But jumping around to different positions on different sides of the ball can be taxing. It's a good thing Jackson is always up for a challenge.
"At first it's pretty different, but I can catch up pretty quick," Jackson said. "I've been doing alright this year."
At 6-foot, 215 pounds, Jackson isn't a prototypical left tackle. But what he lacks in size he certainly makes up for with his quickness. In South Granville's triple option -- similar to Navy and Georgia Tech – coach Hobgood relies on Jackson to provide some clear lanes for the ballcarriers. His main job on running situations is to eliminate a linebacker from the play.
"You've got to be fast, definitely," Jackson said.
One reason Jackson, 17, is playing left tackle is to protect his quarterback from blind-sided hits. South Granville only throws 10-12 passes per game, but when the quarterback is in the pocket, he can feel comfortable with Jackson watching his back.
"He's probably our best pass protector, too, so that works out pretty well," Hobgood said.
With its base triple-option offensive formation, South Granville has some pretty complex blocking schemes. It can be a lot to comprehend for the linemen, but teammates look up to Jackson to be helpful and be a leader on the field.
Jackson was on the wrestling team as a freshman and sophomore, but he suffered a torn ACL both years on his left knee and decided it was best to end his career on the mat.
Away from the football field, Jackson is a model citizen. He's an accomplished student who is intelligent, boasting a 3.8 GPA in high school.
"He's extremely smart and has a great sense of humor," Hobgood said. "He's very mature, but he doesn't take himself too seriously all the time. He knows when to get work done and when to have a good time. He's just a lot of fun to be around."
Jackson is an exceptional student in the classroom. In the top 10 percent of his class, Jackson has already been taking college classes for a number of years at Vance-Granville Community College in Creedmoor through the Granville Early College High School program. Each year, 50 students from Jackson's high school are selected for the program.
When next spring rolls around, Jackson will receive his diploma from South Granville High School as well as a two-year associate of arts and science degree in college.
"I finished my high school classes my sophomore year or maybe the beginning of my junior year," Jackson said.
He enrolled in his first community college courses starting in eighth grade. Now in his senior year, Jackson doesn't take any high school classes at South Granville, but earns dual high school and college credit for some of his college classes.
Jackson (right) has changed positions often, all to benefit his team.
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Jackson believes once he's wrapped up with high school, he'll have 64 credits before moving on to a four-year university.
"I'll transfer in as a freshman because I haven't graduated high school, but I'll be taking junior classes," he said. "I wanted to get ahead."
Learn more about the MaxPreps US Marines program at www.maxpreps.com/marinesJackson is looking at attending one of the University of North Carolina schools, possibly Wilmington or Greensboro, and pursuing a degree in the medical field as a nurse or in forensics.
Jackson helps his father with Red Cross activities.
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"I haven't really decided," Jackson said. "There's so much that I'm thinking about doing."
If taking college classes and competing in football isn't enough, Jackson has been a National Honor Society member for two years and an avid volunteer. Jackson's dad works for the American Red Cross, so he helps during blood drives and other activities when needed. He is also hands-on in the classroom, assisting his teachers and tutoring students.
"That basically takes up all my time," Jackson said. "I'll wake up, go to school and then go to practice and practice will basically take up my whole night."
Jackson enjoys being a well-rounded person and an asset to the Creedmoor community.
"Giving back to the community is always something that's important to me, because the community gives so much to me with what I'm doing with football and stuff," Jackson said. "You've got to give back to the community."
Ever since Hobgood has known Jackson, he has always been a go-getter. He won't let anything stop him on and off the field.
"If he wants something, he just goes and works for it really hard," Hobgood said. "He just sets goals and does good."
