Posted on: Friday, May 7, 2004

Ex-Warrior Jackson set for Islanders debut

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Nate Jackson remembers nearly being denied the opportunity to play his first year of Pop Warner football as an 8-year-old because he couldn't make the 55-pound weight minimum.

He recalls his brush with death when he needed heart-valve replacement surgery in November 2002.

He'll never forget his dreams of playing in the NFL being dashed when he was released by NFL Europe's Scottish Claymores during training camp earlier this year.

Jackson, 24, has had quite a journey and it's not over yet.

The former Wai'anae High and University of Hawai'i defensive back will make his debut with the Hawaiian Islanders (3-2) of arenafootball2 tomorrow in a road game against the San Diego Riptide (1-3). Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (HST) at the San Diego Sports Arena.

"First of all, I'd like to say thank you to the Hawaiian Islanders, Coach (Cal) Lee for giving me the opportunity to do something I love to do, which is play football," Jackson said during a news conference yesterday at the Islanders offices in the Pacific Guardian Center.

Jackson will play wide receiver/linebacker tomorrow. Also making their debuts for the Islanders will be fellow UH alums Craig Stutzmann (offensive specialist) and Joe Correia (lineman). All three played for the Warriors from 1998-2001.

"We're wearing a different color helmet, a different color jersey, but we talk the same talk, we all walk the same walk," Jackson said. "We're just a little bit older and a little bit fatter."

Jackson wanted to try out for the Islanders in early April, but had to wait a couple of weeks for his release from the Tennessee Titans, who assigned him to NFL Europe.

The Islanders have six players on the injured list, and Jackson knows a spot on the 19-player game roster will have to be fought for every week.

"Nothing is given in this world," Jackson said. "So if you think you're going to have a guaranteed spot every week. ... That's something I've never taken for granted."

He said he lost 40 pounds after the heart-valve replacement surgery, but gained it all back and added 20 pounds to get to his current 186 pounds.

"I'm not scared at all with the type of surgery I had or the issues that could come up," Jackson said. "I got cleared by my doctors (over a year ago), they've done their research and actually looked into it."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.