Sophomore wide receiver Trishton Jackson (86) catches the ball during a kick off in the Green and White Spring Game on April 1, 2017 at Spartan Stadium. The White team defeated the Green team, 33-23.
—The last time Spartan fans had a firsthand look at this year’s MSU football team, it was during the Green-White spring game on April 1.
During the scrimmage, several players stood out. However, wide receiver Trishton Jackson seemingly stole the spotlight as the 6-foot-1 receiver hauled in eight catches for 168 yards.
With the start of the regular season less than a month away, Jackson is looking to prove that his spring game performance wasn’t just a fluke.
“First of all, I just practice my craft and I know myself, and as a team, we all know ourselves,” Jackson said. “We’re trying to get better — 3 percent better. That was the first facet this week, just get three percent better every day. Just going out there, we got something to prove this year, so got to make something shape.”
As a true freshman in 2016, Jackson recorded just five catches for 89 yards and one touchdown in nine total games.
After starting receivers Monty Madaris and R.J. Shelton graduated following last season, Jackson is expected to see an increased role in the offense.
Including Jackson, the 2017 roster features four returning letterwinners at the wide receiver position: Jackson, junior Felton Davis III, redshirt junior Brandon Sowards and redshirt sophomore Darrell Stewart Jr.
“Trishton Jackson, you saw what he did in the spring game,” Dantonio said during MSU media day. “So I think he can be a very productive player. Cam Chambers, the guy was redshirted last year. Cody White, Hunter Rison, as I've said, Darrell Stewart has big-play ability, Brandon Sowards is back after having a broken foot in the spring. He missed all of spring. So probably leaving somebody out, but we've got guys there and they catch the ball very well and they've made plays.”
Jackson said it was satisfying to be complemented by Dantonio and it is just a testament to the effort he has put in this offseason.
“It’s very special,” he said. “Knowing myself — knowing the hard work that I put in over the summer with the quarterbacks and Felton too, actually. All the receivers actually (are) just out there grinding and just trying to get better every day. So that’s pretty nice hearing that, but we haven’t done nothing yet."
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