Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk. These are two names that many people know. And many people know them for their playing time for the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams. Well there is a new running back in St. Louis by the name of Steven Jackson. Through only being in the league for four years, he is a big name in this new era of running backs which includes LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Frank Gore, Adrian Peterson and Maurice Jones-Drew just to name a few. His cards are on the rise in value as well. He has some of the most sought after cards from the year 2004.
Steven Rashad Jackson was born July 22, 1983 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jackson attended Eldorado High School in Las Vegas, where he now owns many school records in multiple sports. He was a three-year starter in football. As a junior, Jackson rushed for 1,212 yards and 17 touchdowns. As a senior, Jackson had a huge year, leading the state in rushing with 2,764 yards. He also scored 34 rushing touchdowns. He caught 14 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the state in points scored, with a total of 226. Following his senior year, Jackson was named the number one player in the state of Nevada and was named Player of the Year. He finished his high school football career with 3,976 yards and 51 rushing touchdowns, both school records. Along with playing football, Jackson was also a two-year starter in basketball (guard) and a four-year letterman in track as a sprinter. His football jersey, 34, has since been retired by the school.
Throughout high school, Jackson was heavily recruited. After his senior football season, he announced that he would attend Oregon State University. Jackson did not play much as a freshman. As a sophomore, Jackson led the PAC-10 in rushing with 1,690 yards. His 1,690 yards also ranked eighth in the nation. Jackson had a great season as a junior. Jackson carried the ball 350 times and gained 1,545 yards and scored 19 rushing touchdowns. He also added 44 receptions for 470 yards and three touchdowns. He set a school record with his 2,015 all-purpose yards in his junior season. After his junior season, Jackson decided to go to the NFL, making him the first player to ever leave Oregon State with eligibility remaining to go into the draft. Jackson’s 4,545 all-purpose yards in his three-year career at Oregon State ranks second in school history. His 276 points ranks second as well.
Jackson was drafted 24th overall in the 2004 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. Jackson was overlooked by several teams in the draft due to a knee injury that occurred in his junior season at Oregon State. The knee injury required surgery in the offseason. In his rookie season, he was a backup to Rams great Marshall Faulk. Though he had limited playing time, Jackson still rushed 134 times for 673 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 19 receptions for 189 yards. Jackson’s first career 100+ yard game occurred on December 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. Jackson rushed 26 times for 119 yards. Jackson’s best game from his rookie season was on December 27 against the Philadelphia Eagles, when he rushed 24 times for 148 yards and a touchdown.
With Marshall Faulk aging, Jackson was named the starter for the 2005 season. He finished the season with 1,046 yards rushing (seventh in the NFC and 14th in the NFL) on 254 carries. He scored eight rushing touchdowns. Jackson also added 320 receiving yards on 15 receptions and scored two touchdowns. His best game in 2005 was on November 30 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jackson carried the ball 25 times for 179 yards. He also had a career long 51-yard run. He also caught two passes for 21 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Jackson was also named starter in the 2006 season. This was Jackson’s best year statistically. He finished the season with 1,528 rushing yards (third in NFC and fifth in NFL) on 346 carries and 13 touchdowns. He also added 90 receptions (led NFL in receptions by a running back) for 806 yards and scored three receiving touchdowns. Jackson’s 2,334 yards from scrimmage led the league. His 90 receptions was the most ever by a St. Louis Rams running back. Jackson’s 436 offensive touches ranked second in Rams history and 11th in NFL history. He was also named NFC Offensive Player of the Month in December. Jackson was named to his first Pro Bowl and he was named Rams MVP of 2006. Jackson finished the 2006 season with six 100+ yard games. His best statistical game of 2006 was week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings. In that game, Jackson rushed the ball 25 times and gained 142 yards. He also scored three touchdowns and had a career high 59-yard long run. Jackson also added two receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown. This was the first time a Rams running back scored three rushing touchdowns in one game since Marshall Faulk did it three years earlier.
Jackson’s 2007 season was a disappointment. Many people named him the preseason MVP, and his team, St. Louis, a contender for the NFC championship and possibly Super Bowl winners. The Rams started off 0-8 and Jackson only played in the first three games when a groin pull put him out for four weeks. The Rams finished the season 3-13, but Jackson finished the season with 1,002 rushing yards on 237 attempts and scored five rushing touchdowns. He added 38 receptions for 271 yards and a touchdown. His best statistical game of the 2007 season was week 15 against the Green Bay Packers when Jackson rushed for 143 yards on 24 attempts and scored one touchdown.
Best Rookie Cards
Although Jackson has only had one great season in his four year NFL career, people feel that Jackson has the potential to be a great running back because of his mixture of size (6’ 2” 231 lbs.) and speed (ran a 4.5 40 yard dash at the rookie combine in 2004 on an injured knee). His cards have steadily gone up in BV, and most of them sell fairly well also. Here is a list of his three highest booking rookie cards and three highest booking true rookie autographs (True rookie autographs are non-parallel autographs such as Bowman and Topps Chrome).
Best Rookie Cards
-2004 Playoff Prestige Steven Jackson SP RC #169 BV $50
-2004 Upper Deck Finite HG Steven Jackson RC #271 BV $50
-2004 Ultra Steven Jackson Lucky 13 RC #211 BV $50
Best True Rookie Autographs
-2004 SP Authentic Steven Jackson RC Patch/Auto #210 BV $400
-2004 Bowman Chrome Steven Jackson RC Auto #/199 #224 BV $250
-2004 Playoff Contenders Steven Jackson RC Auto #/333 #174 BV $175
