Alvin Ray Jackson, New Orleans VooDoo linebacker

VooDoo "Jack" Linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson (Photo: Parker Waters).

NEW ORLEANS - Listed at 6-foot-1 and a generous 200lbs, Alvin Ray Jackson would draw more comparisons to Willie than Rickey Jackson.

But this New Orleans VooDoo defender is a physical linebacker like the former New Orleans Saints star and Pro Football Hall of Famer despite a build like the latter, a Black & Gold hero in the Saints' first playoff win in franchise history.

As the leader in the middle of the VooDoo defense, Jackson has been as a rock at the team’s â€œJack” linebacker position, which responsible for stuffing the run as well as dropping into pass coverage. Jackson has been nothing short of spectacular during his first season in the AFL, leading the team with 78.5 tackles and six interceptions, including two in the VooDoo’s 64-33 victory against the Tampa Bay Storm last week.

“He’s a player who understands the whole game. Jack linebacker--you’re caught in between .You need to know what’s going on in the front end and you need to know what’s going on in the back end. And he knows both and he knows how to get himself in position to make those plays,” said VooDoo head coach Jon Norris. “He’s a guy who plays real hard. And you see him—he’s not a big guy, but he holds up well versus the run, the inside run even, he’ll step up and plays with great effort and he can fill the gaps.”

The way Norris describes his “Jack”  linebacker makes him seem like he came out the womb plugging gaps and breaking up passes. However, Alvin Ray Jackson’s unlikely journey started on the other side of the football.

Jackson was a three sport star at North Panola High School, lettering in football, baseball and track and field. He played quarterback and defensive back was on track for a football scholarship—being recruited by University of Alabama—but couldn't make the grades to realize the dream of playing major college football.

Jackson bounced around from Northwest Mississippi Junior College to Jacksonville State and eventually landed at Albany State University, one of the three historically black colleges in the state of Georgia.

“When I got to Albany State I had to be on the scout team [until I made the grades] I proved that I was probably going to be the man. Then my next year came, my junior year, I had a great season and made All-Conference.”

Jackson hauled in 37 receptions for 712 yards and seven touchdowns and received All-Conference 2^nd Team honors. He finished his career as a Golden Ram with over 75 receptions, 1,300 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. In 2004, Albany State enjoyed No. 1 ranking in the Division II Super Regionals Poll during Jackson’s senior campaign, the first time in school history.

Much like finding the right fit in college, Jackson had to search far and wide for a spot as a professional. Jackson didn’t catch onto an NFL Camp and his shot with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League fell through.

“So my agent sent me to San Jose of the AFL, I was there for about a week and a half. They brought me in at the end of the year and I did well there, but they were getting ready to go to the playoffs. The offensive coordinator told me maybe I should try the AF2, which I didn’t know nothing about.”

To Jackson’s surprise the team was in his own backyard, the South Georgia Wildcats.

“We had a team right there in Albany and I’ve never been to a game before,” said Jackson. “The coaches called me and I had a good workout and I ran a 40. I had a good time and they loved me and I came in my first year and had a pretty decent rookie year there.”

Playing for the Wildcats is where he met former VooDoo head coach Derek Stingley, the man who brought him to New Orleans. But, his stint with South Georgia didn’t come without turbulence.

“I made the team as a receiver. He had a lot of talented guys he brought in, but I was the fifth guy – the sideline guy who didn’t dress. So me being a hot-head young guy, rookie or whatever I asked for a release,” Jackson recalled. “I got released and I went to Fort Wayne, Indiana for about a week and I come to realize that the grass wasn’t greener on the other side.”

Stingley allowed Jackson back on the team, but forced him to sit the rest of the year. In 2008, Jackson received another shot and caught on with the Wildcats again, this time as the team’s fourth receiver. Jackson saw little playing time until the team’s starting “Jack” linebacker was lost to an injury.

“I always joked about that I could play defense. Everyone’s like ‘You play receiver. You're a primadonna. You don’t tackle. You don’t do things like that.’ And coach was like I’m gonna give you your shot.

The following week we were tied up with Corpus Christi with like a minute to go in the game and they were driving maybe to win the game and I intercepted the ball and took it like 40 yards to win the game.”

One of the initial non-believers was current and former teammate James Harris, who was Jackson’s teammate at Albany State and in the AF2 with the South Georgia Wildcats, also under Stingley.

“When he said he was playing linebacker I couldn’t believe him,” Harris, the other half of the VooDoo’s “Mack” and “Jack” linebacker combo, jokingly admitted. “I knew what kind of player he is, what type of caliber player he is, so when I actually saw him out there playing, once he got the hang of it, it was a totally different story.”

Jackson adjusted quickly to his new position or “new love” as some would call it. Jackson once hauled in an AF2 record five interceptions in a game against Mohoning Valley. Harris credits Jackson’s experience as a wide receiver to helping him transition into one of the league’s top linebackers.

“I think this is more like him being an offensive guy, actually knowing the routes and the combinations. If he sees one guy running one thing there has to be something coming underneath of that route. So him actually knowing it puts him a better in a position to make plays.”

After spending three years in AF2, Jackson finally received his shot to play in the AFL when Stingley took over as head coach of the VooDoo. Jackson has adjusted rapidly during his rookie season, something he credits to his coaches, particularly Derek Stingley.

“It’s a few things that were different. The QBs are a little smarter, the offensive coordinators are a little smarter and it’s a little bit faster. Certain plays I would make in the AF2 are harder to make,” Jackson said. “As time has gone its slown down a lot for me. It’s a testament to my coaches, Coach Stingley and Ray, and all those guys who put me in the right position.”

Although Stingley is no longer on the sideline, Jackson still feels himself playing a little bit for his former coach, especially in the teams emotional win at Tampa last week.

“Definitely I was. This is a guy who I know knows the game. It’s a guy whose taught me the game and brought me along, brought me here,” Jackson said. “And I’m just trying to prove to the people who think I can’t do it that I can and Coach Sting is one of the guys who helped me see things and understand how to be a football player.”

A football player who finally found a position and is making the most of it.