Tarvaris Jackson was born on April 21, 1983, in Montgomery Alabama. Jackson attended high school at Sidney Lanier High, which is the same school as Green Bay Packer legend Bart Starr. Tarvaris attended college at Alabama State in his home town of Montgomery, and was a three year starter there. He made his college debut in 2001 against UNLV while playing for Arkansas and played three games before he was sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury. He was granted a medical red shirt, for the remainder of the season. In 2002, Tarvaris saw time is eight games for the Razorbacks, which was his final season with the team. He made his first college start against Auburn, and threw his first college touchdown in a game versus South Florida. In 2003, Jackson decided to leave Arkansas University, and head back to his hometown of Montgomery Alabama, and attend college at Alabama State University. Jackson left Arkansas for Alabama State, so he could become an instant starter, rather than be a back up at Arkansas.
While at Alabama State, Jackson majored in psychology, and earned his degree before he left. In his 2003 debut at Alabama State, he started in all 13 games, and led his Hornets to an 8-5 record, the South West Athletic Conference Eastern Division Title, and a berth in the South West Athletic Conference Championship V game against Southern, which Alabama State lost. It was in this season that Tarvaris had his career high 444 yards rushing, and five touchdowns. He guided his team to 48+ points in four games during the season, and threw for a career high 361 yards versus Grambling University.
In 2004, Tarvaris guided the Hornets to another SWAC title, and a 10-2 mark. He became only the second quarterback in school history to lead a team to 10 wins. He was named the MVP of the SWAC Championship VI game and the Detroit Football Classic. He avenged a 2003 loss to Southern in the SWAC Championship game, with a 45-35 win. It was the fifth time during the season that Alabama State scored over 40 points in a game. With the win over Southern in this season's championship game, it also avenged an earlier 42-41 regular season loss to Southern. Tarvaris was ranked third in school history with 2,556 yards passing, and fourth in passing touchdowns with 20.
In his final season as a Hornet, Tarvaris Jackson earned second team All-SWAC honors, and was tabbed the SWAC preseason Player of the Year. Jackson became Alabama State's captain, and offensive MVP. He threw for 2,941 yards, which was the third most in school history, and gained 3,226 yards of total offense, when he rushed for 285 yards for the season. Tarvaris also threw for 3+ touchdowns in 7 of 11 games, and threw at least one touchdown in every game that season. Jackson averaged 293.2 yards per game, and was ranked 9th in Division I AA. His Hornets were off to a great start at 6-1 on the season, before falling to a final 6-5 record. The Hornets lost their final four games by a total of 14 points combined.
In his total career at Alabama State, Tarvaris was ranked 7th in the SWAC with 67 touchdown passes in three seasons. He ranked 9th in the conference with 7,839 yards, and ended his ASU career ranked 2nd in school history for touchdown passes, and passing yards. Jackson accounted for a total of 79 career touchdowns, (67 passing 12 rushing), and threw a touchdown pass in all of his final 16 games. Jackson posted 6 career 300 yard plus passing games, and competed with Jacksonville's first round draft pick wide receiver for the quarterback position at Arkansas. He earned Second team All-SWAC honors his senior season at Alabama State. Tarvaris Jackson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 draft. When the Vikings drafted Tarvaris Jackson, he became only the second player in school history ever to be drafted out of Alabama State University.
Since joining the Minnesota Vikings, Tarvaris has joined his teammates during the 2006 holiday season, taking part in Dick's Sporting Good "Shop with a Viking" event helping children from boys and girls clubs of the Twin Cities spend gift cards. He even hosted a pizza party afterwards. He has taught kids football as part of the Viking Junior Player Development Camp in St. Paul, and his career aspirations are to coach or work with children, in order to give back to the coaches who helped mentor him throughout his childhood. Tarvaris has also hosted barbecues during off season work outs to promote team building for the 2007 season.
In 2006, Tarvaris made his NFL debut, becoming only the fifth quarterback to make his debut as a rookie that season. Jackson joined the rookie class of Vince Young (Tennessee), Matt Leinart (Arizona), Jay Cutler (Denver), and Bruce Gradowski (Tampa Bay). Jackson finished with a 58.0% pass completion, falling behind only Jay Cutler from Denver. When Jackson made his NFL starting debut, it was against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, on the NFL Network. He became only the third rookie quarterback in Viking history to start as a rookie. Jackson joined the elite group of Fran Tarkenton, and Tommy Kramer. Jackson came in in relief of an ailing Brad Johnson in a game versus the New York Jets last season on December 17, and hit Mewelde Moore for a 20 yard touchdown on a screen pass. He threw his second career touchdown to Travis Taylor in a game against the St. Louis Rams New Years Eve in the season finale. In the season finale, Jackson also rushed for his first career touchdown, and tied the season long touchdown pass, connecting with Mewelde Moore for a 50 yard strike. In his very limited playing time in 2006, Jackson threw three passes for over 30 yards.
Tarvaris Jackson has the potential to be a very good starter in the NFL. He is still very young and very raw. Coming out of a Division I AA school, he will need a little more time to develop, than would say a Jay Cutler, Matt Leinart, Vice Young and Bruce Gradowski. Unfortunately, with the WIN NOW mentality of the NFL and sports fans everywhere, there is hardly any time to develop a young quarterback like Tarvaris. This is only his first season as a full time starter, and he will need about three seasons before he gets going. The best possible situation for Jackson would have been to learn from a quality veteran quarterback for a few years, then make his career debut. Since head coach Brad Childress has chosen otherwise, Viking fans everywhere must lend their support to Tarvaris and cheer him on. This young kid has been put in the unfortunate situation of leading a professional football team into battle, before he even had a chance to get his feet wet in real-time NFL play. Viking fans should be patient, support Tarvaris, and watch as he matures in the league. Even the great Brett Favre had a rough fist couple seasons, and packer fans were booing him as well.
SKOL JACKSON!!!!!!
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