PC native doing work, getting set for Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State running back Dezmon Jackson takes a handoff during pregame warmups. The Parkers Chapel native is busy, even though student-athletes aren't on campus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Oklahoma State running back Dezmon Jackson takes a handoff during pregame warmups. The Parkers Chapel native is busy, even though student-athletes aren't on campus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

School’s out. Or, is it?

Oklahoma State football player Dezmon Jackson, a redshirt junior from Parkers Chapel, is back home due to the coronavirus pandemic. That doesn’t mean he’s on a summer break. It’s definitely not a vacation.

“My days are very repetitive, yet I’m just fine with that being that I am a very simplistic person,” Jackson said. “Monday through Thursday at 11:30 a.m., I have to video chat my advisor to go over my schoolwork and whatnot and get started on whatever assignment I have. After that, I get ready and go to the stadium and do whatever running and training they have planned for us in our itinerary and when I’m done with that, I go straight to the gym and work out. All of that lasts for about three-to-five hours. After I’m done with my training, I get something to eat and go home and shower and then work on homework for however many hours I have to. When I’m done, I do whatever with the amount of free time I do have and then go to sleep and repeat.”

The last few years have been a whirlwind for the former Trojan, whose career exploded at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. After rushing for 1,216 yards and 13 touchdowns, he signed with Oklahoma State, reporting to Stillwater for spring drills last year.

The worldwide COVID-19 lockdown actually gives Jackson an opportunity to catch his breath. Although, it’s probably not the kind of breather he wanted.

“I’m just happy to finally be home. As a student-athlete, you’re only home for either a few days or a week at a time. With me coming straight from JUCO to D1, my life never really quite slowed down,” he said. “So, I’m taking this time to get myself together mentally and also physically and I’m enjoying every single moment of it.”

The Cowboys featured a loaded offensive backfield last season. Jackson played in two games, against Baylor and Texas A&M. He had a 9-yard reception against the Bears.

One would think this year’s spring practice would’ve been critical for Jackson.

“Missing spring practices won’t affect me at all,” he said. “We run a multi-back system and we have a package based on two backs being in the game at once and that will only work if I do my job, which I have been. This winter was every bit of perfect. I just keep tapping into new levels and kept proving myself. Before this crisis took place, I was on another level when it came to practice and our training sessions.

“When this first happened, I was very disappointed because I was finally in my comfort zone and was doing everything at the highest level. My hard work was finally paying off in practice and I was doing my thing. After a while, I calmed down and realized this is what I needed mentally and also physically because this lifestyle takes a toll on you. I’m all about mental wealth and I have had my fair share of breakdowns when it comes to manifesting my dreams because I am every bit of sane and content right now.”

The 5-foot-11, 217-pound back said the adjustment to the Big 12 wasn’t that difficult. The Jayhawk Conference he played in was sometimes referred to as the SEC of the JUCO’s.

“My first season was a rollercoaster and was full of adversity,” he said. “But, after JUCO I knew there was nothing in life I couldn’t handle. That’s just how rough that life was and is. I took everything as a lesson, including the injuries, the self-doubt and the need of reassurance.”

Regardless of the circumstances, it’s good to be home. Jackson’s plan is to put in good work so when life returns to normal, he’ll be ready to rock with the Cowboys next season.

Assuming, of course, there is a next season.

“I can’t really tell how optimistic I am that things will be back to normal before fall camp because I believe that we (United States) are not taking this social distance thing as seriously as we should. Therefore, things will get worse before they get better,” he said.

“I would like to get back to playing the game I love as soon as possible. But, I’m in no rush because I want everybody to be safe and the timing to be right. I believe that God is talking to us and we, as a nation, needed this ‘stand still’ to realize that we are just doing too much. So much wickedness in the world today that we need a sit down.”

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