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NFL draft: A prospect named Lamar Jackson doesn't mind being asked about 'the other Lamar Jackson'

MOBILE, Ala. — There’s a 2020 NFL draft prospect — and an intriguing one! — named Lamar Jackson.

No he’s not a quarterback. And he’s not some sloppy-bodied offensive lineman, either, although certainly that would be funny.

But Nebraska CB Lamar Jackson is trying to make a name for himself, even if he might never be the most famous Lamar Jackson in the NFL. The cocksure cover man is a fun prospect in his own right, though, and he’s off to a good start here at the 2020 Senior Bowl.

First, Jackson “won” the weigh-in portion of Tuesday by measuring 6-foot 1/4, a sturdy 206 pounds, and with long arms (32 1/8 inches) and good-sized hands (9 5/8 inches). Then Jackson went out and had a nice opening practice for the North Team later in the day, using his size and length well.

The Huskers played a lot of man defense last season, sprinkling in some cover-2 and cover-3, Jackson said, and he hopes to show he can be that bigger corner that fits those types of systems favored by a lot of NFL teams these days.

“Most reps, you see me in man,” Jackson told Yahoo Sports. “I use that length to get receivers off their routes, gain leverage, all that. That’s my bread and butter.”

This Lamar Jackson is a Nebraska cornerback, and he's fine sharing a name with the possible 2019 NFL MVP. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
This Lamar Jackson is a Nebraska cornerback, and he's fine sharing a name with the possible 2019 NFL MVP. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jackson knows that the system he was in didn’t favor him in terms of interception opportunities, which might be higher for primarily zone corners.

“Their eyes are on the QB,” Jackson said. “Mine are on the receivers. I have to earn every INT, PBU and everything else. It’s harder, what I do, and I know that, but I am fine with it. NFL teams want to see me do exactly what I do.

“It’s a blessing and a curse, but I am glad it went the way it did. I could have done more, but it will all work out in the end.”

Even still, Jackson had a respectable three interceptions, was credited with 12 pass breakups and chipped in nicely with two forced fumbles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

Right now, Jackson projects to being a late Day 2 or early Day 3 prospect.

That’s all good and fine. But does Jackson wish he had a different name given that the Baltimore Ravens quarterback of the same name is coming off what appears to be an MVP season?

Not in the slightest.

“Now that I am getting closer to the NFL, I am getting asked that more: ‘Who is the better Lamar Jackson?’ and things like that,” Jackson said. “But people ask and make jokes about it, and I can make jokes and have fun with it, too.”

Has Jackson met the other Lamar Jackson?

“I might call him ‘the other Lamar Jackson,’ who knows?” he said with a laugh. “No, I haven’t, but at the end of the day I am a fan just like y’all are. I feel like both of us are doing this to take care of our families and we’re making our own legacies.

“There’s enough glory for both of us to share that name. People that know are gonna know, and people that don’t ... well, hey. He can score a touchdown and I can pick off a pass, maybe his pass one day. You never know!”

And as for the Ravens possibly having two Lamar Jacksons on the roster?

“Oh, I already talked to the Ravens,” Jackson said. “I told them: You have some money in that market already. I told them to look at the positives of having two of us on the same team with the same name. We can make this work. Plenty of room for both of us.”

For the record, there’s another name doppelgänger at the Senior Bowl: It’s Oklahoma State’s A.J. Green, who also is a cornerback. And the team that’s coaching Green this week? You guessed it ... the Cincinnati Bengals.

“I haven’t talked to [Green] yet, but I might,” Jackson said. “We can talk about how we already have [those] NFL-approved names going in. Can’t hurt, right?”

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