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University of Minnesota Athletics
Teammates Twice
9/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
When former Iowa Western Community College teammates Cody Poock and Merrick Jackson were reunited at Minnesota, it only made sense that the two would be roommates, after getting to know each other so well in Council Bluffs.
"I think we had one conversation our whole time together at Iowa Western," Jackson said.
Maybe not.
Jackson and Poock were on the same roster in 2013. Poock played as a freshman while Jackson redshirted, but a big roster prevented the two from connecting.
"I knew he was a big guy. There were no pants that fit him. I had never seen anyone that big before," Poock said. "We were both working our way up the depth chart. We both started out like seventh-string because there were about 190 guys on the team. He would line up in front of me for a couple plays and he would roll off the field because he would be tired."
Poock went on to have a strong freshman season with 80 tackles (32 solo) and two interceptions returned for touchdowns as the Reivers went 11-1. He transferred to Minnesota and enrolled in January 2014.
"I remember watching him and realizing that he always had a nose for the ball," Jackson said. "He is always around the ball."
Meanwhile Jackson worked on his conditioning and by his redshirt sophomore year was putting up big numbers. He was named NJCAA First Team All-America after recording 70 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He transferred to Minnesota for his final two seasons.
"When I first got to Minnesota there was a couple guys on the team from Iowa Western and having that similarity was great," Jackson said. "I still wasn't really close with Cody but later in the year we started to bond and ended up living together."
It did not take long for Poock to realize this was a different Jackson than the one that used to line up in front of him for a few plays at practice.
"It is awesome to see him buy in and do everything that he is capable of doing," Poock said. "The sky is the limit for him and it will be fun to watch him keep growing and succeed in whatever he does."
After playing sparingly in 12 games last year Jackson has started Minnesota's two most recent games.
"High school to junior college was a huge speed difference and getting here was another," Jackson explained. "When the game finally starts to slow down is when you get to play comfortable. I think I am really starting to play comfortable."
Jackson also credits the change in culture under P.J. Fleck as one of the biggest reasons for his improvement, stating that he is in the best shape of his entire football career. His style of play also fits well into defensive coordinator Robb Smith's scheme. Smith has utilized Jackson's top skills.
"Everyone tells me that for being as big as I am that I have pretty good movement," Jackson said. "I try to take advantage of that getting off the ball. It is hard to move something big that is moving at a nice speed."
Jackson was thrust into the spotlight in August when ESPNU's "Being P.J. Fleck" caught an interaction between the two. Fleck was shown telling Jackson that he needed to play the best three-technique he has ever played in his life. Later in the show Fleck was shown jumping on Jackson's shoulders and celebrating after he made multiple sacks in a practice.
"Coach Fleck is like a whirlwind so you just have to be able to go as he goes," Jackson said. "This culture is really going to get it out of you. They told us that when they first got here. If you don't bring it then the coaches are going to take it out of you."
Poock, who has played for four different head coaches, defensive coordinators and position coaches in his collegiate career going back to Iowa Western, also noted the change in culture under Fleck.
"Now I see the good in everything. Before I just did whatever and didn't really look for the good in people," Poock said. "Now I look for the good in people. It has been a positive change for me growing up that way."
Even through all the changes and battling through numerous injuries Poock has put up solid numbers in his career. He has 125 career tackles including nine for a loss, a forced fumble and one sack.
There is one thing that has stayed consistent for Poock, even before his days at Iowa Western.
"He is a country boy so we have a couple dead animals around the house, some taxidermy animals," Jackson said. "He is a real country boy."
Poock embraces his country boy style to the fullest. All summer he showed up to weightlifting at 6 a.m. with a dark green fishing jacket.
"I just kept wearing it to weights in the morning because it is so easy to just throw on and zip it up with no undershirt," Poock explained. "Progressively I started leaving it unzipped and I wear it everywhere except to class. It is kind of just me."
With his newfound appreciation for finding the good in people and his laid back country style, Poock is just looking to make the best of his senior season alongside a familiar face in Jackson.
"It is cool to see how much we have both grown," Poock said. "I look forward to seeing what the rest of our final year together will bring."
