Growing up, James Jackson wasn’t involved in the sport of football. Instead, he was involved in another sport: Martial arts.

Since he was 5-years-old, Jackson has been relentless at this sport. Currently, he is at a purple belt. In Martial arts, the purple belt represents a student who is ready to enter the advanced stages of learning. Jackson is not only a student but also a junior instructor for the Fighting Dragon Martial Arts Program. The program is located in Newman and is run by his grandfather and mentor Don Alves. 

While he was still doing martial arts early on, Jackson’s first glimpse of football started with the help of Alves having season tickets to the Las Vegas Raiders - when the team was still in Oakland and played at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum - as both of them attended numerous Raiders’ home games.

It was at this moment that he gained a passion for the sport and found the position he wanted to play. As a defensive end, he modeled his game after the Raiders’ defensive end, Maxx Crosby. With Crosby being his favorite player, Jackson would dawn the same number as the three-time pro bowler, 98.

“My grandpa used to take me to a bunch of Raiders games,” Jackson said. “I just love football, and I wanted to give it a chance.”

Fast forward to today, Jackson will now represent the Newman Warriors Youth Football team in the second rendition of the 14U Sacramento vs Central Valley All-Star game. The game features the best youth football players within the region and varies from multiple age group rosters including 6U, 8U, 10U and 12U. The game will be played on December 14 with the location yet to be announced.

In last year’s inaugural 14U game, the Central Valley cruised past Sacramento, 28-0.

Alves said he couldn’t have been more proud of his grandson getting the opportunity and praised Jackson for his overall determination and attention to detail as a player.

“When the coach told him that he made the team, I was just elated,” Alves said.

Before roster sports were finalized, a two-day tryout was held in November. Central Valley head coach Lucas Schwartz, who is also an assistant head coach for the Modesto Christian High School’s Varsity football team, said that around 40-50 people attended the tryout. For Schwartz, he focused on running an Air Raid offense with offensive and defensive players being quick.

“That’s our motto, just get open grass guys who are just football players,” Schwartz said.

The roster is made up of 34 players from Modesto, Stockton, Turlock, Merced, Manteca and Patterson. Jackson was the only player from the city of Newman. As Schwartz was evaluating players on the roster, Jackson was one of the individuals who stood out.

One instance Schwartz recalled was during one-on-one drills during the tryouts. He said that Jackson was not only winning some of the drills, he also stepped up in challenging the players that he was guarding. It was at that point Schwartz knew Jackson could be a special player. 

“For being a guy that could play physical and he has that size and you have some speed to you, that could be a special player right there,” Schwartz said.

While it may seem that a player like Jackson may have experience in playing football for several years, Alves stated that his grandson started playing youth football two years ago with him being on the varsity team this season.

Joshua Rodriquez, the varsity head coach, said one of the traits that he noticed early with Jackson was being a leader. Whether that be the first player at practice, telling his teammates to pay attention when the coaches are speaking or having the right attitude, Rodriquez looks for this characteristic trait among his players. It’s also an attribute that separates Jackson from other players that Rodriquez coached in the past.

“He’s always just had that aura [and] attitude in him to want to focus and be better, not only as a player but as a team and group,” Rodriquez said.

Currently in the 8th grade, Jackson plans on attending Orestimba High School next year. 

“When I see him on the football field and I hear other coaches come say, ‘Hey, what high is he going to next year?’”, Alves said. “It makes you feel proud and it’s a good moment.”