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Former St. Paul's standout Chevis Jackson returns an interception against Alabama in the 2007 game between the SEC West Division rivals. Jackson would be drafted in thge third round by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2008 NFL draft. (Birmingham News file photo)

Chevis Jackson checks out the day's practice script during South Alabama's Tuesday morning practice, the team's first in full pads. Jackson is serving as a graduate assistant for the Jaguars this season. (Mike Kittrell/mkittrell@al.com)

MOBILE, Alabama - When Chevis Jackson instructs one of South Alabama's defensive backs on technique or provides insight about playing the position, he usually has their full attention.

That's because they don't see Jackson simply as a graduate assistant coach; they view him as a former All-SEC cornerback and a former NFL player. That kind of background brings instant credibility and as such, leads to players taking everything Jackson says to heart.

The former St. Paul's standout who had an all-star career at LSU and went on to play in the NFL for three seasons, having been drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft, has returned home to serve as a G.A. on the Jaguars' defensive coaching staff. He is getting a taste of college coaching and the players in turn are being coached by a guy who has been in The League.

"Chevis has brought a lot because the system we run is similar to what we did at Alabama,'' South Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer said. "It's a NFL-style system. So a lot of the things that we're doing he already knows. He played in it, he played the position. He's brought a lot of stuff, a lot of knowledge, from his time playing under coach (Nick) Saban (at LSU) and in the NFL, and he can teach our guys a lot of things from a corner's perspective of what they need to know, a lot of techniques. He's got a lot of credibility because the players know who he is.

"Just because he played in the NFL and he's a Mobile guy who has a name, that gives instant credibility. But at the same time you have to be able to back it up because you can't go out there and tell them things and then (be wrong). Kids are smart and they'll figure out that this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. But the thing is, he does. He brings that and that just bumps it up even more when he's working with our players.''

His credibility comes from performance. At LSU, he played in all of the Tigers' games as a true freshman and went on to make 42 tackles and intercept five passes as a senior when he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He returned the first interception he made in the NFL 95 yards for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints.

Being hired as a G.A. at South Alabama in his hometown has been the right fit, Jackson said.

"It's been great. Coming home - I'm from here, went to (high) school here. I went off to college. Just to be home for a while here at South Alabama is a great opportunity for me,'' he said.

"Where I've been, how to play certain games. It's a new program so I can put my fingerprint on this and help the DBs know how to play football. Some people come out here and think it's just covering (a receiver) but it's a lot more. It's route-reading, a lot of technique. You don't have to be the most athletic person to be a good DB. That's what I try to instill in everybody, that it's more mental than anything.''

Jackson said he also offers a lot of different viewpoints from a lot of different coaches during his playing days.

"I got recruited by coach Saban, (Will) Muschamp, Jimbo (Fisher) and they're all at different places right now. My freshman year at LSU was a big step for me in knowing the defense. When (Bo) Pelini came in, it's basically the same defense but just different terminology. Wherever you go, that's basically what it is, it's just concepts. It's just different terminology so wherever you go that's pretty much what it is. This is football and you've just got to know what the game is.

"I'm just trying to stay around the game. I don't want to just be done with it. Coaching has been something that I wanted to do after I played football, just to get into it. But it's been great . It's been really good.''

The secondary is an area of emphasis for the Jaguars' defense this season. The recruiting efforts show the importance - several players in this year's signing class play in the defensive backfield and seven of the Jags' Class of 2014 verbal commitments are defensive backs.

Having someone who has experience and credentials from playing at the top level of college football as well as experience in the NFL is a plus for a young program that has a developing secondary.

"He brings a lot of energy and he knows how to play the position,'' South Alabama head coach Joey Jones said. "Chevis obviously was a great player and watching him, he's doing a good job coaching those guys up as well.''

The players say they are enjoying working with Jackson.

"He's been a great help. ... It gives us all motivation to see that we can make it too,'' Tyrell Pearson, a preseason All-Sun Belt selection, said. "He's played in the league. We see somebody that's (been) in the league and knows what it takes to get in the league, so it drives us to want to get better and want to be great.''