Kansas State RB Joe Jackson Fueled By Competition In Backfield

Kansas State Wildcats running back Joe Jackson had all the reason to get upset about what occurred in the transfer portal last winter. 

After last season, the Wildcats brought in Rodney Fields from the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Jay Harris (Oregon Ducks) to bolster the backfield. It didn't matter Jackson was coming off a breakout season. 

Instead of complaining, Jackson did the opposite. 

"I smiled," Jackson told reporters at Big 12 Media Day this week. "That was the first thing I did. A lot of guys, they may think I have a problem with that or I didn't like it. I just looked at it for the betterment of the team. Now I know what those guys can do, I feel like it's going to complement me." 

Last year as a junior, Jackson entered as the backup to Dylan Edwards. That didn't last long because Jackson became the starter early in the season. With Edwards now playing for the Kansas Jayhawks, Jackson is the featured runner. Last year he rushed for 911 yards and eight touchdowns on the way to earning third-team All-Big 12 honors. 

Even though Jackson enters the preseason as the starter, he welcomes the competition. Last year Fields made eight starts for the Cowboys, rushing for 614 yards and a touchdown. Harris had 151 yards and a touchdown for the Ducks. 

Jackson said he has been impressed with what he has seen from the competition. In fact, they have already developed a solid relationship. The trio gives the Wildcats an impressive variety of styles in the backfield.  

"The point where we're at now is that we have a great understanding with each other," Jackson said. "We've all built a great relationship with each other ... We've been able to build a relationship to where whoever is in the room ... somebody can say something and everybody listens. That's the thing that really excites me a lot, that everybody cares." 

MORE K-STATE NEWS 

Where will K-State finish in the Big 12 this season 

The Wildcats extend offer to top receiver 

Should the Wildcats have skipped last year's bowl game? 

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of KStateRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected]