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3-Star WR Bryson Jackson to play football and baseball at TCU

If Bryson Jackson has it his way, he’ll go down as one of TCU’s greatest athletes.

That’s because on Friday morning during a school pep rally at Kingwood Park, he announced his commitment to play football and baseball for the Horned Frogs, but he’s not interested in simply being on both teams.

“Not many kids get the opportunity to play both sports in college,” he said. “And one of my things is that I don’t want to be a normal kid. So I’m setting the goal - setting that standard - to be the next Bo Jackson. I’m not going to do anything less than that. I’m going to do whatever it takes, push my hardest and in both sports I’m not going to let anyone stop me from doing that.”

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Although LSU was among the final teams considered by Jackson, TCU beat the Tigers at their own game. LSU was the first to offer him a baseball scholarship, but he said it was the extra attention that TCU Head Baseball Coach Jim Schlossnagle showed him that pushed the Frogs forward.

“When I came on a visit during a baseball tournament, I was one of the guys that (Schlossnagle) pulled out and showed around, and we talked with me in his office,” he said. “So that really kind of sealed the deal because when I went to LSU, they didn’t give me a personal tour and all that.”

As his recruitment by TCU’s football program ramped up, he said that he thought he has made it out for at least five visits. On those trips, Schlossnagle wasn’t the only Frogs coach that let Jackson know he was a top priority, and his relationship with the football staff was a critical factor in his commitment.

“Coach (Curtis) Luper, on the times I would be out in Fort Worth visiting family, he’d always be texting me and telling me to come by and let him show me around the whole facility, the locker rooms - and to bring friends,” Jackson said. “Every time I’m out there, Coach (Gary) Patterson - with his energy and just his level of excitement - he’s always up. We text all the time and he’s just a great guy and I see that he wants the best for the kids.”

“He already told me that he’ll be there for the rest of my career if I go to TCU, that he’ll be my coach for sure, and I really like the sound of that.”

Two other notable commits in TCU’s class, three-star running back Ta’Zhawn Henry and four-star athlete Taye Barber, will ideally join Jackson for his career as well. The trio are teammates on the well-known Fast Houston 7v7 team and Jackson is looking forward to them continuing on together at the next level.

“Me and Ta’Zhawn are really good friends,” he said. “Playing against each other and growing up together - we’re really close, so I’m excited about it. I’m looking forward to playing with him, Taye Barber also, Justin Rogers, all these guys coming in wanting to make a big difference.”

Jackson anticipates getting reps at several receiver spots, but also having a role on special teams. The recurring theme in discussing what TCU likes about what Jackson brings was his speed, so getting him the ball in space figures to be the top priority when he gets onto the field.

“They talked about playing me in slot so that would get me the ball a little more,” he said. “Most likely they’re wanting to use me on the outside, let me use my speed and break away from guys … but they want to get me in some open lanes, matched up against some linebackers so I can make a play there.”

Meanwhile, Jackson has been encouraged with what he’s seen from TCU on the field this season. He plans on taking his official visit on the November 3 weekend, when the Frogs host Texas, and based on what he’s seen this season, has high hopes for another positive outcome in that game.

“Just watching them so far against Jackson State and again last week against Arkansas, I’ve loved what the offense has been doing,” he said. “They want to get the ball in the air, that’s a big deal for me, and how fast they’ve been moving on offense. On defense, you see right now that they’re stopping teams … so seeing them this season makes me want to get out there and be a part of that.”

The energy on gameday against Texas should give Jackson another reason ‘get chills’ as he said he gets when he sees all the TCU signs and banners around town. He said one of the most important bits of criteria in his decision was the idea of playing in a city that supports its university teams so genuinely.

“I just wanted to be somewhere where the people there are for the college and TCU is one of those places,” he said. “I already know people there, have friends up there who have played on the team, and I just knew I couldn’t go wrong.”

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