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(UWIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. -- While fans will remember Jamacia Jackson as a good athlete or solid player, former USC tailback Cory Boyd will remember him as the self-described "big brother" figure that helped make his decision to come to Carolina very easy.
"He was always full of life," Boyd said. "It was something about his personality that made you want to be around him."
Jackson, a former Sumter High and USC standout, was found dead at his Sumter home early yesterday morning. Details of the cause of his death have yet to be released and an autopsy is scheduled for later this week.
After a highly touted high school career that finished with Jackson being selected to the 1999 Shrine Bowl, the Sumter native went from one Gamecock program to another, enrolling at USC in 2000. After using his first year to redshirt, Jackson was a regular starter at safety and on special teams from 2001-2004.
During his senior season, Jackson recorded the third highest team total of tackles with 59 and grabbed two interceptions -- the first against Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler which he returned 98 yards for a score and other against Charlie Whitehurst in the season finale against Clemson.
While Boyd was still a sophomore, Jackson often called on the vocal player to help get the offense going. Though they played different sides of the ball, the pair were always on the same page.
"He looked at me to be a leader on offense and I looked at him to be a leader on the defense," Boyd said. "Jamacia was one of those guys that always stressed team unity."
Following college, Jackson signed a free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans before being waived in training camp. After a year on Montreal Alouettes practice squad and a training camp appearance with the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe, Jackson signed with the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in January 2007.
According to the Tiger-Cats website, Jackson was playing linebacker where he'd recorded five tackles last season. He was slated to return to Canada for the 2008 season.
"Jamacia was a beloved player, teammate and friend," Hamilton coach Charlie Taaffe said in a statement released through the teams website. "He will be truly missed by our entire team. Our sincere condolences are with Jamacia's family and friends."
While Jackson's football career has come to a close, Boyd's is just getting underway as the New Jersey native trains for the upcoming NFL Draft later this month. With little separation in age between the two friends, the realization of Jackson's death has taken a toll on Boyd.
"It touched home. I'm still shocked about the situation," Boyd said. "It's startling because God took a good person."
(C) 2008 The Daily Gamecock via U-WIRE
