The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2017
Sport: Football (1974-77)
Inducted: 2017
Alfred Jackson started his career as a defensive back before becoming a big-play receiver. The four-year letterman helped Texas win two Southwest Conference titles, post a 34-12-1 record and a pair of Top-6 national rank- ings. He averaged 20.6 yards per catch (70 receptions for 1,441 yards) and had eight TD receptions in his three years at wideout. Jackson also rushed 20 times for 201 yards and two TDs, tallying a total of 1,642 yards and 10 TDs on 90 career touches (18.2 yards per play). Jackson started his career as a defensive back and kick returner as a freshman in 1974, picking off three passes, a freshman season record at the time. He also returned a kickoff 90 yards for a TD that year. In order to take advantage of his athleticism and speed, UT moved Jackson to offense before his sophomore season and it quickly paid off. In his first year at the position, he led the team in receptions with 32 for 596 yards and two TDs. The receiving yardage was at the time the second highest single-season total in UT history and helped the Horns claim a share of the SWC Championship, a 10-2 record and No. 6 national ranking. He also led the team in receptions with 19 for 364 yards and two TDs during his junior season. As a senior, Jackson teamed with Johnny "Lam" Jones to provide a one-two receiv- ing punch that, combined with Earl Campbell's running, sparked one of the nation's most prolific offenses. He caught 19 passes for 481 yards (25.3 ypr) and four TDs in helping the 1977 Longhorns to a SWC Championship, a perfect 11-0 regular season record and No. 1 ranking. Texas spent six weeks at No. 1 before falling to No. 5 Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl and finishing the year ranked fourth nationally. After completing his eligibility, Jackson was taken in the seventh round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He carried his big-play abilities to the NFL, playing seven seasons (1978-84) – all with the Falcons – while catching 187 passes for 3,001 yards (16.1 ypc) and 21 TDs. As a rookie starter, he caught 26 passes for 526 yards (20.2 ypc) and helped lead the Falcons to the franchise's first-ever playoff appearance and a 14-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card game. Two seasons later, he caught 22 passes for 403 yards (18.3 ypc) and seven TDs as the Falcons won their first-ever division title. He graduated from Texas in 1978 with a degree in liberal studies and began a successful career in finance after his pro football career. Jackson currently serves as the President and Founding Partner for Inroads Group, LTD, and in 2011, Black Enterprise Magazine voted him one of the 75 Most Powerful Blacks on Wall Street. He also serves as a member of UT's Red McCombs School of Business Advisory Board.
