Jackson to fill void at Green Bay

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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star

Brandon Jackson will try to fill the shoes of a Nebraska football legend while taking handoffs from a current NFL great.

Jackson, a former Husker I-back from Horn Lake, Miss., was selected Saturday by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the NFL Draft, the 63rd pick overall.

He is expected to compete for immediate playing time in a Packers backfield devoid of ex-Husker standout Ahman Green, who last month signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Texans after seven seasons in Green Bay.

Packers veteran quarterback Brett Favre also is a Mississippi native.

"I grew up watching that dude," Jackson said Saturday night from Horn Lake. "It's crazy that I'll be taking handoffs from a future Hall of Famer."

Jackson, who left Nebraska after his junior season, was among three ex-Huskers drafted Saturday, joining first-round choice Adam Carriker and third-round selection Stewart Bradley.

Carriker, a defensive lineman, was taken by St. Louis with the 13th overall pick, while Bradley, an outside linebacker, was pegged in the third round (87th overall) by Philadelphia.

Jackson probably was the biggest surprise among Nebraska players selected. Most analysts projected him as a middle-round choice, perhaps because he started only 11 of 33 career games at Nebraska. He required shoulder surgery after each of his first two seasons.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters the club considered Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman with the second-round pick. However, McCarthy said, team officials ultimately decided Jackson fit well with the team's zone running scheme.

"We don't have a lot of plays where we're just running downhill," McCarthy said. "He fits our lead zone scheme."

McCarthy said Jackson moved up the Packers' charts as the draft process went on.

"He's a good football player," the coach said. "He's very instinctive. He has excellent feet. He's a natural runner. There's not many wasted steps."

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.