Upset of Michigan put rookie on Bucs' radar

By ROGER MOONEY

rmooney@bradenton.com

TAMPA --

Dexter Jackson ran around the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice field Friday wearing the same brown-and-gold cleats he wore when he ran around Michigan Stadium last September and helped engineer what many are calling the greatest upset in college football history.

Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32. Remember?

Jackson won't soon forget.

"It really helped kick-start this whole journey for me," Jackson said Friday after his first day of Bucs rookie mini-camp. "That game put me on the map."

Heading into that game, the 5-foot-9, 182-pound Jackson figured he would be fortunate to begin life in the NFL as an undrafted free agent.

But after catching two touchdowns passes, including a 68-yarder for Appalachian State's first points, Jackson's name began to appear on draft boards around the NFL.

"Teams were saying, 'Let's check him out. Let's see who he is,' " Jackson said.

One team was the Bucs, and they fell in love with the diminutive speedster, taking him in the second round of last weekend's draft.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden told Jackson he had "juice" during a meeting at the Bucs' facility in early April.

"That just motivates me," Jackson said.

"He's a quick-strike guy," Gruden said. "You see him catch balls down the field, you see him catching quick screens. If he can make one guy miss and find a crease, he is capable of hitting it."

Playing big at Michigan helped earn Jackson an invite to the East-West Shrine Game and the NFL's Scouting Combine.

It also landed Jackson on the cover of the Sept. 10, 2007, issue of Sports Illustrated, where he's pictured running past Michigan's Anthony Campbell during his 68-yard touchdown reception.

The 21-year-old Jackson, who hails from Decatur, Ga., said he has "about 20 to 25" copies of that issue.

How many has he autographed?

"Thousands," he said. "Thousands."

Does that ever get old?

"Not really," he said. "I love the support everyone gave me. It only happens once in a lifetime, so I might as well enjoy it."

Yet it was that once-in-a-lifetime afternoon that propelled Jackson from the Big House to the big time, and now that he's here, he wants to prove he wasn't just a one-catch wonder.

The NFL has been kind to undersized receivers, and Jackson stood near the practice field Friday afternoon listing a few whose names are familiar.

There's the 5-9 Steve Smith in Carolina, who led the NFL in receiving yards (1,563) and was tied for first in receptions (103) and touchdowns (12) in 2005.

There's the 5-10 Santana Moss, a Pro Bowler for the Washington Redskins.

There's the 5-9 Roscoe Parrish, who caught 35 passes and led the NFL in punt return average as a rookie for the Buffalo Bills last season.

And let's not forget the 5-11 Joey Galloway, the Bucs' top receiver who has averaged 67 catches and 1,119 yards over the past three seasons.

Jackson is trilled to be able to learn from Galloway.

"Hopefully, he'll take me under his wing," Jackson said. "There's a lot I can learn from him."

Jackson will play primarily on special teams, where he will return kicks and punts while he worked his way into the receiver rotation.

But he does plan to get in the mix.

"Little receivers can make an impact in this game," he said. "I believe if I can get on the outside, I can use my speed to my advantage."

Now, about those shoes. The Bucs issue new pairs to all their rookies.

"But these are broken in," Jackson said.

Hey, when trying to impress your new boss, if the shoe fits . . .

Noteworthy

There are 54 players in the rookie mini-camp, including 38 invited for tryouts. Three on the tryout side of the roster are former South Florida Bulls - OL Walter Walker, OT Jared Carnes and WR Amarri Jackson of Sarasota. ... Top pick Aqib Talib, who wore No. 3 during his All-American career at Kansas, changed his number to 25. . . . Kicker Art Carmody, the 2006 Lou Groza Award winner, is in camp on a tryout basis.