When redshirt freshman Jaylon Jackson caught back-to-back passes late in the Buffaloes' game at USC last weekend, it marked his first receptions in a football game in more than 1,000 days.

Jackson played in just one game as an upperclassman at Cedar Hill (Texas) High due to back-to-back ACL surgeries and he was sidelined with a broken ankle while redshirting at Colorado last year. Jackson was again sidelined early this season due to a foot injury.

"I had a wonderful time getting out there and being able to play with my teammates,” he said of last Saturday night. “It had been a while since I played in a game so it was good to be able to go out there and knock some dust off.”

Mike MacIntyre has praised Jackson for his ability to keep a positive attitude during each of his rehab stints. Colorado's head coach was happy to see Jackson back out there, although Jay MacIntyre and Laviska Shenault were both injured earlier in the game.

"There are highs and lows in everything,” MacIntyre said. “Jaylon did some good things. We were excited for him.”

Jackson credits his support system for his ability to keep battling through injuries. Although, he admits it was not always easy.

"It is one thing when you get hurt and come back... but to keep overcoming injuries and to keep getting hurt again was the hardest thing to deal with,” he said. “I have a really strong family that supports me and then here I have the support of my coaches and teammates. They always kept me from getting down.

"In life there are going to be bad things that happen to you or hard stuff that you have to deal with. I have definitely learned as long as you keep your head up and keep pushing, you are going to get over the hump.”

With Jay MacIntyre's status for Colorado's game this weekend up-in-the-air, Jackson might be thrust into a bigger role at slot receiver against Huskies.

"I am ready if they need me,” he said. "As receivers here, we cross train at the different positions so anywhere they want to put me, I would be happy to play."

Prior to his second ACL surgery, in the spring of 2016, Jackson clocked in at 10.55-seconds in the 100-meter dash. He estimates he has gotten back 95 percent of the speed he had when he turned heads at that track meet.

If the entire Colorado team lined up and ran 100 yards, who would win the race?

"I would beat all of them,” Jackson said with a laugh. “Even at 95 percent I would beat all of them.”

Who might be able to push him in the race?

"There wouldn't be anybody next to me at the end of the race... just a lot of space until the next guy,” Jackson said, still laughing.