A last-minute phone call sent one of Tennessee's top draft-eligible prospects to one of the biggest national showcases.
Defensive lineman Malik Jackson received an invitation to the Senior Bowl late Monday night, according to the event's Twitter feed. An addition to the South roster, Jackson did not go through Monday's highly scrutinized weigh-in, but will perform in all activities moving forward until Saturday's game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
Jackson, who was the target of frequent double and triple teams last season, led the Vols with 2.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, the latter ranking 13th in the SEC. When he converted from defensive end to defensive tackle midway through 2010, Jackson, who transferred to UT from Southern Cal after his sophomore season, racked up 10 tackles for loss, five of which were sacks, in the regular season's final six games.
Jackson, listed at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, projects as a defensive end in the NFL, according to NFLDraftScout.com. The website ranks him as the country's No. 11 defensive end and projects him to be selected in the fourth round.
Jackson's invitation extends the Vols' streak of placing at least one player in the Senior Bowl. Tight end Luke Stocker, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, represented UT last season.
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Comments » 24
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Great!
wigmeister writes:
Great! He deserves it, and will make himself and the Vols proud!
keepitreal4vols writes:
At least 1 Vol will get drafted
CroKev writes:
I thought LT would have had a lot more positive things to say about Malik. Really, the guy is a DE who took one for the team when he lined up inside and still was good enough to create havok in opponents' backfields. He was also a pre-season 1st team SEC guy and would have finished that way if he had not gotten double-teamed so much. I think he's going to be a future pro-bowler.
rtrchatt writes:
My how the mighty have fallen. Replacement selection to the Senior Bowl. Gotta love the talent in orangeville
VolFanInTheBoro (Inactive) writes:
Shen, you haven't fallen. You're still one of the biggest instigating, pot stirring trolls around
Vols4life77 writes:
I'm glad for Malik. He has been a class guy on and off the field. He never complained when they moved him to tackle, never heard him say a word about losing coaches or playing for such a young and inexperienced team. He always took the high road and along with his talent and character I hope he gets a chance to succeed at the next level. Was very happy to have Malik as a VOL and I wish him the best. GBO
duck_in_a_pen writes:
No matter how "mighty" you may be, it is difficult to fall further than sexually assaulting an opposing fan in a Krystal or poisoning trees.
jcherrie#219531 (Inactive) writes:
Congratulations - Malik continuted to improve - he'll be playing on Sundays.
jcherrie#219531 (Inactive) writes:
He can't get any lower so it's difficult to fall. Saying stupid things makes the lowly feel better about they're failures and lack of talent.
givehim6 writes:
About time the NCAA world addmitted the Vols had a few things going for them.
fearthehound writes:
Like we always said, 'around the bowl and down the hole, roll tide roll'.
BamaVol writes:
What is a shen? something you flush?
antonio14313 writes:
LT probably did, but the papers the papers edits all the time, and doesn't give the full comment every time.
good for malik! rep our vols well. we know you will. go vols.
t
CoverOrange writes:
Most of our talent weren't seniors this year. Of the 7 or 8 that significant playing time 3 were invited to post season bowls. I'm okay with that.
CoverOrange writes:
He wouldn't have gotten double teamed so much if there had been anybody on the other side. There in lay the problem.
antonio14313 writes:
demanding double and triple teams, ey? 6'5" 270lbs ya say? hmmm. his workout could help his draft stock as well. don't be surprised if he goes late 2nd, early 3rd round, if not better! go vols.
t
Snapshot writes:
If you are such a UT hater, why are you constantly reading and responding to another schools site? does it make you feel good to come on here and make you're snide little comments?
You really need to get a life, because you are apparently a bored and bitter little person.
dj54 writes:
SO YOU GOT KICKED OUT OF THE CHESS CLUB GET OVER IT LOSER! AT LEAST MALIK LEFT USC WHY DONT YOU LEAVE THE STATE
VolFanInTheBoro (Inactive) writes:
shen is something you flush and also one of rtrchatt's former user names
Clarkrm0706 writes:
Someone suggested I check out volnation, I must admit that they actually have recent stories and a way to follow recruiting without paying. If any of you are members of 247, maybe you should tell those guys that you don't have to pay for info on your own team. Go figure.
Fighton writes:
Malik didn’t leave USC because of Kiffin, but because he was THIRD STRING on the depth chart. He was contacted by a Tennessee coach and recruited to transfer UT after the sanctions came down (which was allowable per NCAA). Malik knew he could transfer to UT without having to sit out a year, and would be able to walk into a starting position.
Let see…transfer and start in the SEC? or stay at USC, deal with the sanction bs, two year bowl ban and have to fight for playing time against Armond Armstead, Nick Perry, Devon Kennard, Wes Horton, and Everson Griffen? It had nothing to do with Kiffin and everything to do with less competition for playing time.
RashaadSalabeb writes:
This is very well deserved! He'll make a fine NFL player, too. You can mark my words on that!
Go Malik! Go Vols!
TheVolSnake writes:
Congratulations it is well deserved he is a great young man and will do well.
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