Former Razorback Wins Food Network Star

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Former University of Arkansas two-sport student-athlete Eddie Jackson Jr. won the Food Network Star Sunday.

A cornerback and track and field athlete at Arkansas, Jackson was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He also played professionally for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Washington Redskins before an injury ended his football career.

While at Arkansas Jackson played in 48 games at cornerback and strong safety. He recorded 178 tackles, 35 pass deflections, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He also ran hurdles for the National Champion Razorback track team where he earned All-America honors in 2000 in the 110 hurdles.

On the Food Network Star, Jackson claimed that football and food were his passions. After his retirement from football he began competing appearing on MasterChef in 2013, finishing eighth.

Jackson, a Richardson, Texas, native, was crowed the winner of Food Network Star Sunday after his pilot, BBQ Blitz, combined with his 11-week performance in the kitchen and in front of the camera, was voted on as the best in the competition.

“It’s a roller coaster,” Jackson said on FoodNetwork.com after winning. “This competition is definitely a roller coaster. It’s going to test you mentally, physically, emotionally. Eleven weeks is tough. And the thing about it is, you never know what you’re going to be doing. You don’t know what the challenge are going to be. You have no idea what you’re going to be cooking, so you have to be on your toes. It’s definitely one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve been through a lot of difficult things in my life, and this is at the top.”

Read more about Jackson on The Food Network’s website > http://bit.ly/1WzWOIx

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