MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It seems a lifetime ago when West Virginia defensive coordinator Tony Gibson watched Josh Jackson dominate junior high games in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The life-comes-full-circle storyline will dominate Sunday night when Jackson makes his college debut as Virginia Tech’s freshman quarterback, facing Gibson’s defense.
“He’s a born football player,” Gibson said. “He’s been around football his whole life and he’s studied a lot of him, but hopefully he’ll be a little nervous.”
Jackson’s father Fred, a longtime Michigan assistant, coached alongside Gibson for three seasons with the Wolverines. Current West Virginia defensive line coach Bruce Tall also was a part of that Michigan staff and developed close ties with the Jackson family.