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2002: Jackson, whose father played at USC in the mid-1970s, was moved from linebacker to defensive end in the spring of 2002 and will serve as a backup there as a redshirt freshman in 2002.
2001: Jackson redshirted as a freshman linebacker in 2001, his first year at USC.
HIGH SCHOOL: He earned 2000 Prep Star All-American, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-Western Region, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best of the Rest, Las Vegas Sun Super 11 second team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State honorable mention, All-CIF Southern Section first team, All-CIF Division VII, Los Angeles Times All-South Bay/Westside, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team and All-Angelus League MVP honors as a senior at Serra High in Gardena (Calif.). He made 130 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, 9 sacks, 1 interception for a TD and 2 fumble recoveries for TDs as a linebacker in 2000, plus caught 20 passes for 342 yards (17.1 avg.) with 3 TDs as a tight end.
As a 1999 junior, he was the All-Angelus League MVP as he had 100-plus tackles, 6 sacks and an interception on defense and 14 receptions with 3 scores on offense.
He also had 100-plus tackles (with 4 sacks) as a 1998 sophomore.
In his career, he notched 365 tackles, 32 tackles for losses, 19 sacks, 2 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries (with an 80-yard TD return) and 7 forced fumbles.
He also was on the basketball and track teams at Serra.
PERSONAL: His father, Melvin, lettered at USC as an offensive tackle in 1974 and 1975 (the 1974 Trojans won the national championship), then played guard with the Green Bay Packers for 5 years (1976-80).
AUSTIN JACKSON ON: What his father told him about playing at USC: "He told me to be tough. He said I'd have to work hard and fight to get through things."
