Tanard Jackson
Encyclopedia
Tanard Ricardo Jackson is an American football
safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Syracuse
.
at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland
where he played running back
and defensive back
. During his senior year he was named the team's MVP after totaling 1,132 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, four interceptions, 78 tackles
, and two sacks
. He finished his career with 252 tackles, a school record 19 interceptions, 3,121 rushing yards, and 39 total touchdowns.
at Syracuse University
. During his senior season he was earned All-Big East Conference
second-team honors. He finished his career with 165 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and five interceptions
in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. Although he played cornerback
while at Syracuse, the Bucs converted him to a free safety. He started all 16 games during his rookie season, recording 56 tackles, and two interceptions.
On September 22, 2010, he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for a violation of their substance abuse policy. Because the suspension was Tanard's second violation (he missed the first four games in the previous season due to a violation), he was declared ineligible for reinstatement until September 22, 2011, ending his season after two games and 13 tackles. He was reinstated on the 11th of October 2011.
On October 14, he was placed on the Buccaneers active roster. He made his first 2011 Season debut on Sunday October 16, 2011 against the New Orleans Saints
Jackson got a pick in his first game against the Saints at home during week 6 of the 2011 season. He later got a pick in the second game which was week 7 against the bears in London after not playing football for 56 weeks of suspension.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
.
Early years
Jackson played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland
Potomac, Maryland
Potomac is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth...
where he played running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. During his senior year he was named the team's MVP after totaling 1,132 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, four interceptions, 78 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, and two sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. He finished his career with 252 tackles, a school record 19 interceptions, 3,121 rushing yards, and 39 total touchdowns.
College career
Jackson played his college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. During his senior season he was earned All-Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
second-team honors. He finished his career with 165 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and five interceptions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jackson was drafted by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. Although he played cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
while at Syracuse, the Bucs converted him to a free safety. He started all 16 games during his rookie season, recording 56 tackles, and two interceptions.
On September 22, 2010, he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for a violation of their substance abuse policy. Because the suspension was Tanard's second violation (he missed the first four games in the previous season due to a violation), he was declared ineligible for reinstatement until September 22, 2011, ending his season after two games and 13 tackles. He was reinstated on the 11th of October 2011.
On October 14, he was placed on the Buccaneers active roster. He made his first 2011 Season debut on Sunday October 16, 2011 against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
Jackson got a pick in his first game against the Saints at home during week 6 of the 2011 season. He later got a pick in the second game which was week 7 against the bears in London after not playing football for 56 weeks of suspension.