Jackson decides to continue Navy legacy

It is safe to say that Missouri City (Texas) Hightower defensive end Kelvin Jackson is a Navy man. Maybe he always has been one. He has had the Navy in his family lineage and now he has joined the fold. Recently Jackson was happy to accept a scholarship offer from Navy and gave it his verbal commitment.

"I committed to the Naval Academy about three weeks ago," Jackson said. "First of all, it's the Academy. It's a pretty prestigious school. For them to be looking at me, I was very honored by that and by them liking my ability."

Where as many prospects have to be convinced to take on the military responsibilities of a service academy commitment, Jackson jumped at the opportunity. It was one that he had always wanted.

"I come from a military family and all my life I've wanted to be a marine," he said. "What better way than to go to the Naval Academy and come out as an officer."

Jackson also appreciated the opportunity to play defensive end, despite being an offensive lineman in high school and even his parents found perks to the selection.

"They also let me pick my position," he said. "At my high school I play offensive tackle because that's where my coach needs me but I'm really a defensive end and they saw that and said I could play there. The after-school plan really sat well with my parents. After college what's going to happen, getting paid to go to college all of that seemed like the right choice."

Jackson had picked up offers from the other two service academies, had received interest from Rice, Houston and Kansas State and had even received some serious interest from national power Notre Dame.

"The Notre Dame coaches were really interested," he said. "They told me I had an offer and all I had to do was come to their camp. They had seen me on tape. They knew I was good. They just needed the defensive end coach to see me. I had already decided on Navy though. But those coaches are real cool. [Notre Dame offensive coordinator] Mike Haywood is actually my cousin."

Even interest from a school as prestigious as Notre Dame couldn't sway Jackson from his dream of military service.

"My dad was in the Navy, my grandfather was in the Navy and I have a cousin that is serving in Iraq," he said. "My dad is real proud of me going to the Naval Academy and he's really honored. I'm glad to make him proud."