Washington spring practice, Day 10: On the competition at cornerback
Elijah Jackson, Ephesians Prysock, Thaddeus Dixon ... and more.
SEATTLE — Elijah Jackson thanks God for the memory, and yes, he acknowledges, “it looked cool,” though he offers that assessment of his famous swat as the only supporting evidence that it should be remembered as a game-winning play.
The fifth-year junior cornerback names several 2023 teammates — Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze, Jabbar Muhammad, Thaddeus Dixon, Tuli Letuligasenoa — in service of his point, which is that credit for Washington’s 37-31 victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl should be distributed throughout the roster, and not merely assigned to the player who happened to touch the ball last on the final snap.
“Everybody came and played a role, you know what I mean?” Jackson said after UW’s Tuesday practice, not yet four months removed from that pass breakup in the College Football Playoff. “So it wasn’t just me. I just had the opportunity. Pressure is a privilege. I had the opportunity to get the last play, but all of my brothers contributed. I had one, small drop in the bucket, compared to all the 120 plays we played in that game.”
Also: “I don’t really reminisce. They don’t care what you did, they care what you do. When football is all said and done and I’m a little older, then I can start reminiscing. In this moment now, it’s what you do, not what you did. I just keep going forward, keep trusting in God.”
Jackson’s current situation allows little time for reflection, anyway.