Soul’s Jackson Named Top Offensive Player

When the Soul set out to upgrade their roster after going 8-8 during the regular season and losing in the second round of the Arena Football League playoffs last year, the team’s top target was free-agent wide receiver Chris Jackson.
The Soul landed their man - one of the league’s career statistical leaders at his position - and bringing Jackson to Philadelphia has proven be a smart move.

That was evident again yesterday, when the nine-year veteran from Morrisville was named the AFL offensive player of the year.

“It’s an honor and a blessing to receive that award, but I choose to look at it more as a team award,” Jackson said after the Soul went through their last full-scale practice in preparation for their National Conference championship game against the Cleveland Gladiators tomorrow at the Wachovia Center.

“I’m humble enough and have been around long enough to know that it’s not possible to win that without the offensive line we have, the two great quarterbacks we have, and the support of the other receivers.”

This is the second time the 33-year-old Jackson has claimed the award.

After being named rookie of the year in 2000 with the Los Angeles Avengers, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Washington State product was named offensive player of the year in 2003.

Jackson, who is the only AFL player to claim both honors, left Los Angeles after the 2004 season for a spot with the Georgia Force, where he spent three seasons before signing one of the league’s most lucrative contracts with the Soul.

For his career, Jackson is second all-time in touchdowns (318) and receiving yards (13,229), and tied for second with 991 receptions. In his only year with the Soul, he set regular-season records for receptions (140), receiving yards (1,710), and touchdowns (49).

“I just came out and did my things, and worked as hard as I could to make this team be productive,” Jackson said.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer