In 2002, Jackson was a consensus prep All-America, All-West, All-State, All-City and All-League selection as well as his league's MVP.

He had 142 tackles, with 11 sacks, plus 4 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions in 2002 while playing defensive line and middle linebacker.

Jackson played college football for the University of Southern California and was a 4-year starter for the Trojans starting 51 of 52 games.

Philip Rivers (NC State) is the only other player in NCAA history to start 51 games.

He won USC's Service Team Defensive Player of the Year award.

Key: GP - games played; GS - games started; TT - total tackles; T/L - tackles for a loss; FR - fumbles recovered; PD - passes deflected; Int - interceptions Jackson was selected in the first round with the 28th pick in the 2008 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

He was the fourth defensive end taken in the first round (behind Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, and Derrick Harvey).

On August 18, 2010, Jackson was traded to the Detroit Lions for a 6th-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft.