When thinking of the most important position on the football team, one's immediate thought is the quarterback. Given a little more time, a disruptive pass-rusher or playmaking wide receiver could also take the top spot. But with some new perspective, the center could just as easily be considered the key to success. Enter sixth-year senior center James Jackson.
 
The improvement across the entire offensive line is a big reason for the success that South Alabama has experienced early this season, and it starts with the experience of Jackson playing that crucial center position. The center has the most obvious responsibility of getting the football safely to the quarterback each play, but Jackson's leadership runs much deeper than that as he's asked to manage the entire offensive line unit by calling out protections and identifying the middle linebacker in order for there to be balanced protection.
 
Jackson, who transferred from Mississippi State prior to the start of the 2021 season, is in the midst of his second season with the Jaguars. In that short time, he has made a big impact on his teammates and coaches.
 
"He's been unbelievable," says Gordon Steele, offensive line coach for the Jaguars. "Coming into the system, he's done a great job at handling the learning of it, the knowing of it, making all the calls and being a leader. I think a lot of it too is this past offseason he transformed his body. He's a stronger, more athletic guy."
 
But Jackson hasn't always coordinated blocking schemes. Early in his career for the Bulldogs, his primary goal was to dismantle them. The Moss Point, Miss., native played both offensive and defensive line at Pascagoula High School and during his recruiting process he and the coaches made the decision that he would be a full-time defensive lineman during the next phase of his career. He made the switch during his redshirt freshman year in Starkville. After playing on the defensive side for two years, Jackson and the coaches began to see his natural ability on the offensive side of the ball. As it turns out, his time across the trenches may have been one of the biggest positive impacts for Jackson's development as a center.
 
"If I'm blocking and a defensive lineman does a certain thing, I know what to do off of it," Jackson said. "I know what the defensive line is trying to accomplish and what the o-line is working to do. It gives me two perspectives."
 
It can be easy to compare how a defensive and an offensive lineman play. They are the largest guys on either side of the ball, playing in the most physical area of the field. Jackson has had to learn what sets the two apart, and he uses that to help break down what the defense is trying to do.
 
"Regardless of what side of the trenches you're on, you need to be physical. The major change is the technique of the offensive line, like the certain way we need to step for each protection," says Jackson. "There are also differences between run blocking and pass blocking."
 
Jackson highlights the patience that is required to pass block, whereas when he run blocks he is more proactive in initiating the contact and moving downfield.
 
Steele can also see how Jackson's previous experience is helping not only himself, but the whole team. "Anytime we are watching tape, he understands it a little bit differently than the other guys. He's able to communicate with the rest of his teammates the reason why they are playing a certain way, how they are doing it and what you can expect."
 
A new perception of South Alabama also helped guide Jackson back to the gulf coast to finish his collegiate career less than an hour away from his hometown. Growing up, he had always wanted to attend Mississippi State. He built a strong relationship with the coaches there and committed to play for them in the spring of his junior year of high school. But, the changes he began to see in South Alabama helped bring him back to Mobile.
 
"It was a decision I made based on the new staff and it was a program on the rise," Jackson said. "They were looking to build a program and I was like, 'Why wouldn't I come home to come play for this team?'"
 
Jackson gained a new perspective on his familial support once he transferred to South Alabama. The proximity to his hometown allowed them more opportunities to watch him play in person and play a bigger role in supporting him. His family sometimes found it difficult to make it to home games in Starkville, a problem that has been negated since he began playing for the Jags.
 
"They make it to just about every home game," said Jackson. "They couldn't make all of them when I was in Starkville. It feels good to walk out and see my parents and girlfriend up in the stands."  
 
James considers himself lucky to have a strong family that supports him with whatever he needs. "Whatever I need, they'll be able to help, regardless if it's something I'm going through or just something I need to ask. They are one call away."
 
That includes his uncle, Alcender Jackson. The Pascagoula, Miss., native played guard at LSU in the late 1990's, followed by a short career in the NFL playing for the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.
 
The concept of having two perspectives is playing a part in Jackson's life off the field, too. This year, he has started to help the local youth football programs by working as a referee for the nine-year-old kids' games on Monday nights.
 
"I just wanted to help around more and do something other than just being at home. I'd rather get out and help," Jackson said.
 
Even though it is only his first year doing this, James can see the difference he can make for the kids. "It can mean the world to those kids that I help referee. They know I play football, so just talking to them and interacting with them is a big deal."
 
In much the same way that Jackson looked up to his uncle Alcender when he was young, he is starting to recognize the impact he is having on the young kids that he referees each week.
 
"We interact with them. I try not to throw flags if I don't have to," Jackson stated. "If somebody makes a good play, I try to compliment them. If they make a mistake I always tell them that it's okay and it's just one play."
 
The work he has put in has helped him learn the importance of serving those around him. "It may not mean much to me, but I think it can make a difference for others."
 
That same way of thinking that Jackson uses to help young kids move on from mistakes has found its way into the offensive line group for the Jags. He says the communication has improved over the past year, and that has led to stronger relationships. The idea of taking it one play at a time he's learned through watching the kids on Monday has helped the offensive line this season as well.
 
"Throughout the games and practice, we all correct each other," Jackson said. "If we did something wrong, we talk through it. I say we communicate a lot better than we did last year, and that will help us in the long run. If we can communicate, even if somebody messes up, we're all on the same page and it's good."
 
Increased communication with his teammates has led to a higher and healthier level of accountability among the players. That is one of their keys to success this season, according to Steele.  "This is a special room when it comes to holding each other accountable. It's a self-driven room. The older guys, like James, they make the young guys fall in line and hold the standard that we have."
 
A leadership role may not have been on Jackson's mind before, but he's grown to fit this role as signal caller for the offensive line and has stepped up to lead the Jaguars.
 
"When I first came to college, I was not very vocal; I was just trying to get a feel of everything," Jackson said. "I didn't talk a whole lot, I just went out and played. Then, when I got here, I was pretty much the same way. I just did what I had to do, but this season, I've taken it upon myself to try and say a little more because I feel like they will listen to me because of my experience."
 
The effort he has put in to being a better leader is not lost on his coaches.
 
"James is more of a leader by example. He works his tail off," according to Steele. "The words he says are few and far between sometimes, but they always mean something. His teammates know that."
 
His leadership is starting to bear improvements for the offensive line this year. The unit has allowed only 10 sacks through six games is season, a mark that is top 50 in the country.
 
Jackson has also stepped up and led his teammates in their desire to improve. As a group, the offensive line didn't feel like they ran the ball last year as effectively as they could have. So, they put in the work to improve.
 
"We have more depth," according to Jackson. "I feel like, as an offensive line, we took it upon ourselves to do a lot more. We did more this offseason because we wanted to improve on what we did last year."
 
Steele has recognized the changes among his position group. "Anything gets better over time, of course. We've been in the system for another year now. Everything is about these players. If they put the work in and they commit to doing something, and they have, that is what makes a difference."
 
A difference that is tangible. The Jaguars are third in the Sun Belt in scoring with 36.0 points per game and are also averaging 6.2 yards per play this season. The team is averaging 51 more rushing yards per game than they did last season.
 
Much like his own team's improvements, Jackson can see the growth in the young kids that he referees each week.
 
"I see some teams get a lot better than what they were the first week they started," Jackson said.
 
This year isn't the first time Jackson has served others during his time as a college athlete. He's had the chance to join teammates in other projects, such as highway cleanups or ringing bells at grocery stores during the holiday seasons.
 
"I feel like service is important because, whether you are working with kids or with adults, they see that you are trying to do something," Jackson said.
 
Jackson has loved spending his Monday afternoons with the local kids. After his playing career is over, he wants to go back to teaching younger kids the game he loves as a high school coach. One of the big reasons why is the impact that a high school coach can have on the young players. Jackson still talks to his old high school coach in Pascagoula on a regular basis, and he is beginning to have that desire to make a similar difference in the next batch of football players. It all started with a new perspective.
 
But before he thinks too much about the future, Jackson and the rest of the offensive line have their focus solely on the rest of this season and making a statement and that statement is ringing loud and clear as they enter the "Battle For The Belt" matchup with their in-state rival Troy on Thursday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium sitting just one win away from bowl eligibility and atop the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings at 5-1 and 2-0 in league play.

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