Cali pass rusher waiting for 1st offer

Van Nuys (Calif.) Birmingham will have a loaded roster next year and could have at least five players sign with Div I colleges next February. One such player will be defensive lineman Malik Jackson.

Jackson, 6-4, 220 pounds is one of the state’s top rush ends and knows how to get to the quarterback. As a junior, Jackson earned 1st team all-league, all-area and all-city honors after totaling 54 tackles and 13 sacks.

Jackson also impressed at the Army All-American game combine earning 1st team all-combine honors and is poised for a huge senior season.

“Malik is a heck of a player,” Birmingham coach Ed Croson said. “He’s very good coming off the edge and uses his hands well. He has a nice frame and once he fills out and gets a lot stronger, he’s going to be a very fine college player.”

On the recruiting front, Jackson is still waiting for his first offer but is hearing from schools all over the region.

“I’m hearing from UCLA, Cal, Oregon, Arizona State, Arizona, Washington, Nebraska, Connecticut and a few others,” Jackson said. “I’m in no hurry to decide right now so I’m not worried that no one has offered.

“I’m planning to go through the recruiting process, take some trips and then I’ll commit later in the year. Right now, my top schools are Oregon, UCLA, Arizona, Cal and Washington. I’m looking for the school that has the best combination of academics and athletics. I want to major in Broadcasting so that will play a role as well.”