Gateway’s Courtney Jackson ready for increased leadership role at Syracuse
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Courtney Jackson broke out on the field for the Syracuse football team in 2021.
The Gateway graduate and redshirt freshman receiver and kick returner appeared in all 12 games with eight starts for the Orange and led the team in receptions (37) and yards (389).
He caught three touchdowns and returned a kick for a score.
“I finally got a chance to show what I could do in a big role for the team on the field and be a leader off the field,” said Jackson, who will begin his third on-field season with Syracuse in August.
Now, he hopes to increase his impact for a team hoping to improve on last year’s 5-7 overall mark and 2-6 record in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
“I tasted success last year, and now I want more,” Jackson said.
“That was big motivation for me to keep working hard and not skip a beat. Not only have I wanted to maintain, but I’ve also wanted to gain. I was really happy with spring workouts. They really showed the progress I made since the end of the season. Now, the next couple of weeks is about staying on track to have a good camp and a good season.”
Jackson understands his role on the team has changed and he must step it up on and off the field.
“I am more of that leader and that older-type guy in the room,” Jackson said.
“It’s not only just about me getting better, but also how I can help everyone else get better as a team. We’re always striving to bring our offense together and click as one.”
Jackson, in the midst of his preparation for the upcoming season, took time last week to instruct and mentor at a Nike Football Skills Camp on June 20-21, at Gateway High School.
He said he appreciated the opportunity to give back.
“I’ve been in the shoes of these young kids, and I looked up to guys who were in the position I am now,” Jackson said.
“I want to be a positive influence and role model for these kids that if they work hard and dedicate themselves, they, too, can be successful and do whatever they want to do.”
The camp was sandwiched between on-campus workouts with Jackson’s Orange teammates. Preseason camp for Syracuse begins in early August and leads up to the opener against ACC foe Louisville in the Carrier Dome on Sept. 3.
“I am just taking it day by day and trying to be that much better than the day before,” he said. “It’s a long season, and it’s nothing you want to rush. But it will get here quickly.”
The 2022 schedule for the Orange also features a return to Heinz Field against Pitt on Nov. 5.
Jackson’s first experience at Heinz Field was with Gateway in the 2017 WPIAL title game against Penn-Trafford when he caught seven passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in the 21-16 triumph.
He returned with Syracuse in September 2020 and caught three passes for 15 yards, but the Panthers prevailed that day, 21-10.
The game, played in a stadium without spectators because of the ongoing covid pandemic, was tough for Jackson.
“The most frustrating thing was not being able to see my family,” he said. “I was right here. I was home, and they couldn’t come to the game or the hotel to visit. But it was nice to be in a familiar place where I had some good memories with winning the WPIAL title. This year at Heinz will be a special game for me.”
Jackson capped the 2021 season with a career-best eight catches for 92 yards and both touchdowns in a 31-14 home loss to Pitt.
“I just went out and did the best I could do for my team,” he said.
“We wanted to get the win, but we gave a good effort.”
Jackson made perhaps his biggest impact of the 2021 season in a 41-36 comeback victory at Virginia Tech on Oct. 23.
He caught seven passes for 86 yards and his first collegiate touchdown as Syracuse rallied in the fourth quarter.
With the Orange down nine points with less than three minutes remaining, Jackson caught a 12-yard scoring pass from quarterback Garrett Shrader to close the gap to two.
The game-winning points came on a touchdown pass with 19 seconds left.
“It was important for me as it was my first touchdown, but it was big for the team as we were able to get a pretty key win in our season on the road at a tough place to play,” Jackson said.
Jackson’s punt return prowess earned him All-ACC honorable mention honors from Pro Football Focus. He took over as the team’s primary returner for the final third of the season after an injury to the regular return man. He returned three punts for 110 yards, including a 68-yard score against Boston College on Oct. 30.
“With not being the starter at the beginning of the season, to come away with some recognition like that, it was cool to receive that award,” Jackson said.