Deacs land commitment; Wolfpack signs DB

By: Bill Cole | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: May 16, 2008

Justin Jackson, a junior at Richmond Senior High in Rockingham, decided yesterday that he had his fill of the recruiting process and committed to Wake Forest, and N.C. State signed a versatile defensive back from New Jersey for this year's class.

Jackson is a 6-1, 215-pound linebacker and fullback and was a key player on one of the state's top Class 4-A teams last season. He can sign a binding national letter-of-intent in February 2009.

The Wolfpack signed Akeem Cunningham. He played cornerback, safety, quarterback, wide receiver and running back last season in helping East Orange High win a New Jersey state title.

Duke and East Carolina also offered Jackson grants-in-aid also but he settled on Wake Forest earlier this year.

"All he told me this morning is, 'That's where I want to go,'" Coach Paul Hoggard of Richmond said. "Justin doesn't talk a whole lot. He said he liked Wake Forest from the first day he went there on his junior visit.

"He really liked the coaches. He was tired of the recruiting process and was ready to commit. He said that was the place where he wanted to go."

Richmond finished 13-1 last season and reached the Class 4-AA quarterfinals largely because of Jackson's play on defense and offense.

He had 123 tackles, including 73 unassisted, and five tackles for losses, an interception, a fumble recovery and two sacks. He also caused two fumbles and was first team All-Mid-Southeastern 4-A at linebacker. Hoggard said that Jackson has 4.51-second speed over 40 yards.

"He plays with his hair on fire," Hoggard said. "He'll go get them. He runs really well, and he's strong. He's a good athlete, and he likes to hit people."

Hoggard said that Jackson was recruited to likely play linebacker at Wake Forest.

Cunningham (5-11, 185) passed for 600 yards and eight touchdowns, with two interceptions for East Orange last season. In six games playing defense, he made 30 tackles, broke up six passes, forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass.

• Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.