William Jackson III

William Jackson III (born October 27, 1992) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football for the Houston Cougars and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Jackson was also a member of the Washington Football Team / Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers.

William Jackson III
refer to caption
Jackson with the Washington Football Team in 2021
Personal information
Born: (1992-10-27) October 27, 1992
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:189 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Wheatley (Houston)
College:
Position:Cornerback
NFL Draft:2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× second-team All-AAC (2014, 2015)
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Tackles:205
Sacks:1
Pass deflections:51
Interceptions:5
Touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

High school career

Jackson was born on October 27, 1992, and grew up in the Fifth Ward area of Houston, Texas, alongside a brother and three sisters.[1] He attended and played football at Wheatley High School in the city, where he was teammates with fellow NFL cornerback Xavien Howard.[2] Jackson was considered a three-star prospect by Rivals.com.[3] He accepted a scholarship to play college football at the University of Houston.

College career

Jackson attended Trinity Valley Community College for his freshman year before transferring to the University of Houston for his sophomore year. As a senior in 2015, he broke up 23 passes and had five interceptions.[4]

Statistics
Season GP Defense
CmbTfLPDIntFF
2015 12431.52350
Totals12431.52350

Professional career

With a deep cornerback class going into the combine, many analysts were more focused on Vernon Hargreaves III, Jalen Ramsey, and Mackensie Alexander, regarding them as the top players at their position and had Jackson as a second round selection.[5][6][7] Jackson attended the NFL Combine but was unable to finish all the drills at the combine after suffering cramps.[8] On March 31, 2016, Jackson attended Houston's Pro Day.[9][10] He was projected to be an early round pick in the draft at the conclusion of the pre-draft.[11][12][13]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+3⁄8 in
(1.84 m)		 189 lb
(86 kg)		 31+3⁄4 in
(0.81 m)		 9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		4.37 s1.56 s2.52 s4.32 s6.86 s9 ft 8 in
(2.95 m)		10 reps
All values from NFL Combine and Houston Cougars pro day.[14]

2016

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Jackson in the first round (24th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.[15] On June 10, 2016, Jackson signed his four-year, $9.07 million rookie contract with the team.[16] Throughout training camp, Jackson competed to be the Bengals' third cornerback on the depth chart against Darqueze Dennard. During camp Jackson had suffered a torn pectoral muscle and would have to undergo surgery, leading him to miss his entire rookie season after he was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 1.[17]

Jackson III in 2017

2017

Returning fully healthy in 2017, he made his debut in the season-opener against the Baltimore Ravens and made two solo tackles and a pass deflection in a loss. In Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, Jackson recorded four solo tackles, a pass deflection, and returned an interception off a pass by quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a 75-yard touchdown.[18] With the interception, he became just the second player in NFL history to return one thrown by Rodgers for a touchdown. In Week 7, Jackson earned his first career start after Adam Jones was inactive due to a back injury. In Week 10, he recorded two solo tackles and made his first career sack during a 24–20 loss at the Tennessee Titans.[19] He was inactive for the Bengals' Week 11 victory at the Denver Broncos due to a toe injury.[20] Jackson became a starting cornerback again for the Bengals' in Week 14 after Jones was placed on injured reserve due to a groin injury.[21] In Week 15, he collected a season-high five combined tackles during a 34–7 loss at the Minnesota Vikings.[22] Jackson finished the 2017 season with 27 tackles, 14 pass deflections, a sack, an interception, and a touchdown.[23]

2018

Throughout training camp, Jackson competed against Darqueze Dennard to be a starting cornerback.[24] Head coach Marvin Lewis named Jackson and Dre Kirkpatrick the starting cornerbacks to begin the regular season.[25]

2019
Jackson playing against the Cleveland Browns in 2019.

In April 2019, the Bengals picked up the fifth-year option on Jackson's contract.[26] In Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, Jackson recorded his first interception of the season off Jimmy Garoppolo in the 41-17 loss.[27] He was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury in December 2019.[28] He finished the season with 37 tackles, three passes defensed, and an interception.

2020

Jackson recorded an interception off a pass thrown by Baker Mayfield in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns.[29]

2021

Jackson signed a three-year, $40.5 million contract with the Washington Commanders (still known as the Washington Football Team at the time) on March 19, 2021.[30][31] He recorded his first interception with Washington in the season opener against Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.[32] In the Week 10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jackson recorded his second interception of the season off a pass thrown by Tom Brady after safety Kamren Curl popped the ball loose from Buccaneers receiver Jaelon Darden.[33] Jackson missed the final two games of the 2021 season due to a calf injury then being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on January 5, 2022.[34]

2022

In Week 5 of the 2022 season, Jackson was benched in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans.[35] Jackson stated he left the game due to a bulging disc in his back, but head coach Ron Rivera stated "We just decided to make a change" when asked by media to confirm Jackson's claim.[36] Jackson was reported to request a trade from the team on October 13, 2022.[37] The Commanders made Jackson inactive for the next three games.

Pittsburgh Steelers

On November 1, 2022, Jackson was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers along with a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick.[38] He was placed on injured reserve on November 12, 2022.[39] The Steelers released Jackson on March 10, 2023. after having never played a down for the team.[40]

NFL career statistics
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFR
2016CIN 00did not play due to injury
2017CIN 155272161.01417575.075100
2018CIN 1616413470.013000.00000
2019CIN 14133726110.0311919.019000
2020CIN 1414453870.01113030.030000
2021WAS 1212393630.08200.00000
2022WAS 44161510.02000.00000
PIT 00did not play due to injury
Total7564205170351.051512424.875100

References
  1. Michael Rosenhouse (April 27, 2016). "UH's William Jackson III makes his way to the NFL with the support of his family". CW39.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  2. Beasley, Adam. "Shots fired, lives forever changed: How a past murder shaped Xavien Howard's future". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  3. "Rivals".
  4. "William Jackson III 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  5. Jonah Tuls (February 9, 2016). "2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Houston CB William Jackson III". draftwire.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  6. Half Habib (April 9, 2016). "Houston corner William Jackson III speeding up NFL Draft lists". palm beach post.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  7. Sam Monson (February 29, 2016). "Why William Jackson III might be the best CB in the 2016 Draft". PFF. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  8. "William Jackson III/Houston, CB:2016 NFL Draft". NFLdraftscout.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  9. Gil Brandt (March 25, 2016). "Saints, Steelers get good look at top CB prospect". NFL.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  10. Jacob Klinger (April 7, 2016). "NFL mock draft 2016: Pittsburgh Steelers select William Jackson III, per Mel Kiper". pennlive.com. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  11. "2016 NFL Draft Position Rankings". si.com. April 27, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  12. Mayock, Mike. "Mike Mayock's 2016 NFL Draft top 100 prospect rankings". NFL.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  13. Legwold, Jeff (April 25, 2016). "Ranking the draft's top 100 players". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  14. "William Jackson III Draft Profile – NFL.com". NFL.com.
  15. "NFL draft: Results, analysis for every Round 1 pick". ESPN.com. April 29, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  16. "Overthecap.com:William Jackson III contract". Over the cap.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  17. Wagner-McGough, Sean. "Bengals' first-round pick William Jackson lands on injured reserve". CBSSports.com.
  18. "Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers - September 24th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  19. "NFL Game Center: Week 10-2017: Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans". NFL.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  20. Roling, Chris (November 23, 2017). "Bengals injury report: William Jackson returns, five miss practice". bengalswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  21. Terrell, Katherine (December 9, 2017). "Bengals place Adam 'Pacman' Jones on IR". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  22. "NFL Player stats: William Jackson III (2017)". NFL.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  23. "NFL Player stats: William Jackson III (career)". NFL.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  24. "NFLBengals CB Darqueze Dennard not concerned 'at all' about his contract". clutchpoints.com. July 2, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  25. Marcum, Jason (September 4, 2018). "Bengals depth chart: Alex Redmond to start at right guard in Week 1". cincyjungle.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  26. Smith, Michael David (April 24, 2019). "Bengals pick up William Jackson option". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  27. "Garoppolo throws 3 TDs, 49ers roll over Bengals 41-17". www.espn.com. September 15, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  28. "Bengals Sign Jordan Franks, Trenton Irwin To Roster; William Jackson Placed On Reserve/Injured". Bengals.com. December 27, 2019.
  29. "Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns - September 17th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  30. Gordon, Grant (March 19, 2021). "Former Bengals CB William Jackson signing with Washington". NFL.com. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  31. Washington Football Team Public Relations (March 19, 2021). "Washington Signs CB William Jackson III". WashingtonFootball.com. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  32. Hailey, Peter (September 13, 2021). "What went well for WFT in their opener vs. the Chargers?". NBCSports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  33. Selby, Zach (November 14, 2021). "5 takeaways from Washington upsetting the Buccaneers". WashingtonFootball.com. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  34. Alper, Josh (January 5, 2022). "Antonio Gibson and Ereck Flowers off COVID reserve, William Jackson goes on list". NBCSports.com. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  35. Manning, Bryan (October 9, 2022). "Commanders bench cornerback William Jackson III". USAToday.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  36. Cadeaux, Ethan (October 9, 2022). "Commanders' William Jackson III removed early in loss to Titans". NBCSports.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  37. "Commanders CB William Jackson III wants fresh start, could be traded out of D.C. ahead of deadline". NFL.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  38. Lolley, Dale (November 1, 2022). "Steelers acquire Jackson, trade Claypool". Steelers.com. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  39. Varley, Teresa (November 12, 2022). "Watt activated; Jackson to IR; Fitzpatrick out for Sunday". Steelers.com.
  40. "Steelers release former first-round pick William Jackson III four months after trading for him". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
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