FOXBOROUGH — How one responds when something they love is torn away often serves as a barometer of character. To wallow in self-pity is to admit you’ve been conquered. The alternative? Hunker down, buckle up, and continue to grind.
For Patriots rookie cornerback J.C. Jackson, there was a point in college where he lost something of great value. The game he loved had been torn away, and the career he once took for granted felt less attainable than a winning lottery ticket.
So Jackson, feeling as though his life were careening out of control, turned to his family as a stabilizing force.