When cornerback Donte Jackson was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of last year's Draft, his nickname - "Action Jackson" - gave those in the Carolinas a certain idea of what to expect. And come the Fall, Jackson would end up justifying that nickname in his rookie season. But as is always the case after a player's first season, Jackson finds himself in a position where he can still grow and improve as he sheds his rookie stripes and begins Year Two of his NFL career.

As he drove to Bank of America Stadium for the beginning of the Panthers' offseason program, Jackson discussed his approach and his expectations for himself in his second season.

Season 2 will be about the Action for @_DJack01 ?? pic.twitter.com/ZrgfWwpdb2 — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 16, 2019

"Everybody has a lot of high hopes for me coming into my second year. I'm the same way," said Jackson. "I want to see what I'm gonna do, because I'm gonna put the work in. That's really what Year Two's gonna be about."

Given that he now has a year of experience under his belt, Jackson expressed a desire to begin his second year on the right note. And a large part of that is partaking in the Panthers' offseason program, even though the early days of offseason workouts are not mandatory.

"Even though (team workouts are) not mandatory, we have the type of team that everybody comes," said Jackson. "Everybody's a part of it. I just think that that makes everybody want to get back in the swing of things."

Jackson entered his rookie season with a certain degree of hype, as the Panthers' coaching staff espoused great confidence in him throughout the summer. Head coach Ron Rivera had given Jackson the most-striking endorsement, stating in training camp that the Panthers had not had a player like him since Josh Norman.

Jackson would quickly validate his coaches' faith in him, winning the starting cornerback job alongside James Bradberry and recording three interceptions in his first three games. Jackson gave the Panthers' secondary a swagger that hadn't been seen since the days of "Thieves Avenue", and he also elevated Bradberry's level of play thanks to how he complimented the bigger, more physical Bradberry as a smaller, faster corner.

But after recording his fourth interception of the season in the Panthers' Week Nine win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the big plays stopped coming as Jackson arguably hit the dreaded "rookie wall". But in spite of his lack of takeaways in the second half of the season and other glitches here and there, Jackson recorded a very respectable stat line for a rookie corner: His four interceptions led all rookie NFL cornerbacks, and he also had 74 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble for good measure.

Now, Jackson will look to improve on those numbers and make an even bigger role in his second season under the guidance of new secondary coach Perry Fewell. And as has always been the case, Jackson in no way lacks in confidence that he can get the job done.

"It's Action Jackson, and we back man!"