Made the most of the opportunities presented by the rash of injuries that ASU sustained at the running back position last fall ... does not have the blazing speed that is usually prevelant in spread offenses but runs low to the ground with power ... has gained the trust of the coaching staff to receive the ball in tough situations.

2008: Turned in what was easily his most productive season to date as a junior ... rushed for 317 yards and four touchdowns on 65 carries, more than doubling his previous career totals in all three categories ... was looked to by the ASU staff to carry the load in two critical situations during the course of the season ... the first was at Georgia Southern when Jackson was ASU’s last remaining healthy back and he responded by coming off the bench to pick up 34 critical yards on just six carries (5.7 ypr) ... following the emotional 37-36 win, head coach Jerry Moore presented Jackson the game ball in an emotional locker room ceremony ... when faced with a similar situation heading into the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship, ASU’s coaches gave Jackson the starting nod and he rewarded their faith with 58 yards on 11 carries (5.3 ypr) in the 37-21 Mountaineer win ... prior to the crucial postseason situation, he made his first career start in a 49-7 win at Chattanooga, but carried only once for two yards ... in additon to the 317 yards on the ground, he added 28 yards on four receptions over the course of the season.

2007: Saw action in 14-of-15 games, mainly in a special-teams role ... finished with 12 tackles in kickoff and punt coverage ... rushed 23 times for 131 yards and a touchdown in a reserve role ... carried once for five yards in home opener versus Lenoir-Rhyne ... carried a season-high 11 times for 24 yards in win over Gardner-Webb ... turned in best performance of his young career in blowout win over archrival Western Carolina, running for 78 yards on just seven carries, including a season-long 42-yard scamper and a one-yard dive for his first-career touchdown ... capped season with four rushes for 24 yards in national championship triumph over Delaware.

2006: Appeared in just one game, rushing once for 10 yards in 41-0 win over Mars Hill.

2005: Redshirted.

High School: Three-year letterwinner at Gastonia Forestview H.S. ... two-time all-conference and all-county honoree ... rushed for 1,600-plus yards over final two prep seasons, including over 900 yards en route to team’s Offensive Player of the Year accolades ... recognized as region’s Player of the Week numerous times ... coached by Scott Lee ... also lettered in track and field four years.

Personal: Full name is Joshua Deray Jackson ... born June 14, 1987 (22 years old) ... son of Debbie Jackson ... cousin, Mike Watson, played at Western Carolina ... majoring in health promotion ... enjoys drawing and fishing ... aspires to work as a personal trainer and health consultant.