Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: CSU Athletics Communications
Hill-to-Jackson combo has been in the works
8/8/2019 9:00:00 AM | Football
Duo developed a chemistry early in their careers
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – From the first day in camp, the timing was impeccable.
Maybe it was an out route, or something involving a double move. There wasn't a window too small, and even if they knew a safety was providing help over the top, it didn't matter.
Collin Hill would settle into the pocket and let the ball fly toward Warren Jackson, who approached the play as if he knew what was coming all along.
They've made it look easy, effortless even. Which is a lie, of course. But the formula to the connection Colorado State football fans are so eagerly anticipating didn't happen overnight. The work was put in long ago.
"We were at the bowl game in New Mexico, and I was playing catch with somebody, a receiver," Jackson said. "(Alvis Whitted) saw Collin over there warming up by himself, and he said, 'Warren, that's your quarterback in a couple of years. Go workout with him. Go catch balls with him.'
"That really stuck with me. That was my freshman year in the bowl game against Marshall."
At the time, Hill was still in the process of rehabilitating his first knee injury. He was better at that point, but still redshirting for the season. Jackson was the true freshman who was a bit rough around the edges, filled with promise he put on display in a two-touchdown performance against No. 1 Alabama on the road.
The circus catches he made that day were a sign of the possibilities, and Hill also heeded the advice of the Rams' former wide receivers coach and took every opportunity to work with Jackson.
When Hill was still unable to really move, but was cleared to throw, he threw to Jackson. If they had a free Saturday afternoon, they were out playing catch. Hill's willingness to get back, and having him on speed dial, struck a chord with Jackson, who saw a quarterback he calls a "grinder" who was willing to put in the work required. In each other, they found kindred spirits with a desire to achieve great things.
In practice, both relegated to the second team on the depth chart, they began the process of creating a chemistry.
"It's a perspective thing," Hill said. "Obviously in the situation or at the time we'd rather want to be with the 1s, but we were with the 2s and getting reps with each other there. Then after practice, too. Looking back, I think it's huge."
"We talked about it, and Coach Whitted always said we'd end up together and we could be something special. That was two years ago. To finally kinda see it trending that way is pretty cool."
As the 2019 season approaches, Jackson is at the top of the list at receiver. Michael Gallup, Preston Williams and Olabisi Johnson are no longer out in front, so Jackson is primed to take a lead role. Not that the humble junior from Mission Hills, Calif., would talk about himself in such a manner.
What he projects on the field dictates he is ready for the mantle. He's made tough catches look routine, and at 6-foot-5, he can high-point a ball unlike most of his counterparts. His body control is on display when splitting coverage or maneuvering to beat a pair of defenders to a pass. What looks natural is actually a history.
"I don't hesitate to him. He's told me, and I've told him a number of times, if it's a one-on-one thing, I'm giving you a shot," Hill said. "Until you prove me otherwise, that I can't trust you, you've got the green light. We did that the first day, and I think he had four or five 50-50 balls that he came down with. Coach Bobo said it, it's probably not a 50-50 ball. He's definitely been a dog."
What Bobo has told Jackson is those passes are actually "80-20" balls, factoring in the wideout's height and athleticism. The more he makes those plays, he knows the more Hill will give him a chance to do so.
It is the connection the Rams need to fuel explosive plays on offense, and while it may be one in its infancy to the rest of the college football world, it seems like just yesterday to them, when nobody was really paying much attention to the duo on the second unit.
"We came out and the balls were just on the money every time if you watched that first practice," said Jackson, who caught 12 Hill passes for 138 yards and score in 2018. "They were on the money every time. We were already in synch, ready to go. That will only help us improve this season."
Maybe it was an out route, or something involving a double move. There wasn't a window too small, and even if they knew a safety was providing help over the top, it didn't matter.
Collin Hill would settle into the pocket and let the ball fly toward Warren Jackson, who approached the play as if he knew what was coming all along.
They've made it look easy, effortless even. Which is a lie, of course. But the formula to the connection Colorado State football fans are so eagerly anticipating didn't happen overnight. The work was put in long ago.
"We were at the bowl game in New Mexico, and I was playing catch with somebody, a receiver," Jackson said. "(Alvis Whitted) saw Collin over there warming up by himself, and he said, 'Warren, that's your quarterback in a couple of years. Go workout with him. Go catch balls with him.'
"That really stuck with me. That was my freshman year in the bowl game against Marshall."
At the time, Hill was still in the process of rehabilitating his first knee injury. He was better at that point, but still redshirting for the season. Jackson was the true freshman who was a bit rough around the edges, filled with promise he put on display in a two-touchdown performance against No. 1 Alabama on the road.
The circus catches he made that day were a sign of the possibilities, and Hill also heeded the advice of the Rams' former wide receivers coach and took every opportunity to work with Jackson.
When Hill was still unable to really move, but was cleared to throw, he threw to Jackson. If they had a free Saturday afternoon, they were out playing catch. Hill's willingness to get back, and having him on speed dial, struck a chord with Jackson, who saw a quarterback he calls a "grinder" who was willing to put in the work required. In each other, they found kindred spirits with a desire to achieve great things.
In practice, both relegated to the second team on the depth chart, they began the process of creating a chemistry.
"It's a perspective thing," Hill said. "Obviously in the situation or at the time we'd rather want to be with the 1s, but we were with the 2s and getting reps with each other there. Then after practice, too. Looking back, I think it's huge."
"We talked about it, and Coach Whitted always said we'd end up together and we could be something special. That was two years ago. To finally kinda see it trending that way is pretty cool."
As the 2019 season approaches, Jackson is at the top of the list at receiver. Michael Gallup, Preston Williams and Olabisi Johnson are no longer out in front, so Jackson is primed to take a lead role. Not that the humble junior from Mission Hills, Calif., would talk about himself in such a manner.
What he projects on the field dictates he is ready for the mantle. He's made tough catches look routine, and at 6-foot-5, he can high-point a ball unlike most of his counterparts. His body control is on display when splitting coverage or maneuvering to beat a pair of defenders to a pass. What looks natural is actually a history.
"I don't hesitate to him. He's told me, and I've told him a number of times, if it's a one-on-one thing, I'm giving you a shot," Hill said. "Until you prove me otherwise, that I can't trust you, you've got the green light. We did that the first day, and I think he had four or five 50-50 balls that he came down with. Coach Bobo said it, it's probably not a 50-50 ball. He's definitely been a dog."
What Bobo has told Jackson is those passes are actually "80-20" balls, factoring in the wideout's height and athleticism. The more he makes those plays, he knows the more Hill will give him a chance to do so.
It is the connection the Rams need to fuel explosive plays on offense, and while it may be one in its infancy to the rest of the college football world, it seems like just yesterday to them, when nobody was really paying much attention to the duo on the second unit.
"We came out and the balls were just on the money every time if you watched that first practice," said Jackson, who caught 12 Hill passes for 138 yards and score in 2018. "They were on the money every time. We were already in synch, ready to go. That will only help us improve this season."
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