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Andy Cripe/Corvallis Gazette-Times
Despite dealing with an ankle injury, Ruben Jackson cheers on his teammates during Saturday’s upset of Southern California. Jackson has been an inspiration to his sibling. |
Ruben Jackson never let a rough childhood slow him down
By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Corvallis Gazette-Times
Limited playing time and an ankle injury have put a damper on Ruben Jackson’s senior season with the Oregon State football team. But after what he has been through to reach this point, those setbacks won’t ruin what he can accomplish here.
As the wide receiver’s turbulent journey to and through Corvallis draws to a close, he has withstood everything that has shaken his life and turned each into character-building experiences.
The Stockton, Calif., native is on the verge of graduating with a liberal studies degree — not an easy task with his academic past — and the ability to play somewhere beyond OSU.
Jackson has already started a family, and can look back at life and feel a sense of accomplishment.
“He did a great job,” coach Mike Riley said. “He got himself in the hole in school and fought out of it. He’s not far from graduating. He’s had a lot different stuff most guys don’t have to go through.”
His early life was more American nightmare than dream. Jackson’s parents were involved with the drug culture and living the inner-city street life of south Stockton.
There were times his mother dropped off Jackson and his sister with their grandmother and would disappear for long stretches.
“I didn’t have a child’s lifestyle growing up of playing with other kids,” Jackson said. “I was taking care of my little sister. My parents were on the streets doing what they were doing.”
The final instance came when it was discovered Jackson and his sister, who is three years younger, were left alone for many days at a time to fend for themselves.
It was a common occurrence for Jackson, who hadn’t reached his 10th birthday. He would steal rice and sugar packets to survive.
“All I was thinking back then was we had to eat,” Jackson said.
His grandmother, Martha Jackson, found them alone and brought them home with her. Child protective services became involved and took the children away until reports were filed. They spent two months in government care.
Jackson became the parental figure for his sister. Even though the boys and girls were separated, he made sure his sister stayed with him day and night.
“I wasn’t worried being in there,” Jackson said. “We had a stable house. We were in there eating right. I just protected my sister when I was in there.”
Martha finally gained custody of them, and his life started to improve. Still, he was in a rough area of town.
Expectations for him were low, particularly from family members. They just saw another version of his father in him.
Getting involved in the stereotypical problems of the ghetto as a teenager didn’t help change that outlook.
Jackson’s grandmother made him participate in sports to keep him out of trouble, but it took time to find the right outlet.
Baseball was going well, until he was hit by the pitcher. He realized starting a fight with him wasn’t part of the game.
That led to his first football game in 1996. Jackson started out as a defensive lineman wearing No. 81. He eventually moved to receiver and quickly excelled, using the game to improve his life.
“It was my way out of the hood, the ghetto,” Jackson said. “Even though some of my family members were telling me I would be dead or in jail by the age of 16, my grandma always told me to look past what they say.”
Jackson excelled at Edison High, and could have gone to Idaho State. However, he wanted more. Playing in the Pacific-10 Conference was his goal.
He attended City College of San Francisco where he caught 76 passes for a school-record 1,493 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2004, and was a first-team JC All-American.
Beyond his production leading to the scholarship he wanted, it was an important year for him in other ways. His son, Jordan, was born in November. Jackson’s girlfriend, who he intends to marry, Tiffany Mitchem, lives in Stockton. She and Jordan are waiting for him to finish school.
“It’s hard being away,” Jackson said. “I miss them a lot. But I’m out here doing it for them. I want to be able to make it for her, and my son.”
A shoulder injury slowed his progress his first season with the Beavers last year. Then academic trouble nearly made him ineligible this season.
Jackson flunked four classes his first term at OSU, so he played catch-up right until the following fall. He passed 36 units from the winter through the summer.
He needs 40 more to earn his degree. All of them are a struggle, and he can’t relax. He walks a fine line when it comes to academics.
“I just want to be able to tell my son the importance of getting a college degree,” Jackson said. “If I can do it, he can do it. The biggest moment of my life was me having my son. It made me try extra hard. And I thank God that he’s healthy. I was blessed.”
Jackson is now helping his little brother, Ricky, get out of the inner-city. He brought him to Corvallis to live with him this year and attend Corvallis High.
It’s his way of taking on his grandmother’s role for Ricky.
However this season turns out for Jackson, his stop at OSU was worth it because he changed his life for the better.
Graduating and taking care of his family are his priorities, and then giving pro football a shot comes next.
“He’s a great story,” receivers coach Lee Hull said. “He didn’t have a good home life, but he wants to be the first person in his family to graduate. A lot of those things pay tribute to his character. He has a little son, and he wants to be a role model to his son and wants to provide him a better life than he had.”
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