Jackson was a four-year starter at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, more commonly referred to as Cal Poly.

He finished his college career with 137 solo tackles, 199 total tackles, 8 interceptions for 307 yards (ranks first in school history) and 3 touchdowns (ties school record with David Fullerton), 40 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles, and a single sack for -6 yards.

In July 2011, he was selected to the preseason Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, among 20 candidates for the Football Championship Subdivision's national Defensive Player of the Year honor, named by The Sports Network.

[5] He is probably most known for returning a punt for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during a preseason NFL game, and then started doing the famous Gangnam Style dance.

[7] Jackson was suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances on December 11, 2012, for using Adderall, a prescription drug, to treat his attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

[8] On August 2, 2013, he again violated the PED policy and was suspended without pay for an additional eight games of the 2013 season.

[16] On January 28, 2016, cornerback Asa Jackson signed a futures contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

[citation needed] In 2022, Jackson was hired as the cornerbacks coach for his alma mater, Cal Poly.