![\"Fresno](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Jackso_fitted.jpeg\" "\\"Fresno")
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Fresno City College sophomore defensive end Emanuel Jackson.<\/p>\n
FRESNO CITY COLLEGE<\/p>\n
Former Hanford High standout Emanuel Jackson is one of the leaders on the Fresno City College defense.<\/p>\n
In his second season, he has a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss in helping the Rams to a 4-2 overall record and 1-0 in the Valley Conference.<\/p>\n
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Jackson leads by example for his Rams.<\/p>\n
Jackson and the Rams will host Modesto Junior College at 1 p.m. in a conference showdown.<\/p>\n
Before the game, The Bee caught up with Jackson to get his thoughts on the season and what he sees for the next several weeks.<\/p>\n
Question: Your team bounced back after the bye with a win, snapping a two-game losing streak. How can you guys carry that momentum into the Valley Conference showdown against Modesto?<\/p>\n
EJ: We carry the momentum by keeping the same mindset: staying focused on details, knowing our techniques, and trusting that we\u2019ve got each other\u2019s backs out there.<\/p>\n
Q: Your leadership significantly helped the defense this season. As the second half of the season started last week, what are you sharing with your teammates to ensure you guys keep piling up wins?<\/p>\n
EJ: One thing I\u2019m telling my guys constantly is that we can\u2019t let up. Know who we are, play our brand of football, and everything else will fall in line. We can\u2019t get distracted by social media or the outside noise. We know what our expectations and goals are for this season, and we\u2019re not lowering them.<\/p>\n
Q: Were those two losses something you guys can build on for the rest of the season?<\/p>\n
EJ: The two losses are for sure something we\u2019re going to build on going forward. During nonconference, we were still getting the feel for each other as a team, and in situations like those two losses, most teams fold and want to hang it up, but we did the opposite. We went back to the drawing board, watched a bunch of film, and corrected our mistakes not only as a team but as a brotherhood.<\/p>\n
Q: You have a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss this season. How would you evaluate your performance so far, and what areas of your game are you still trying to improve?<\/p>\n
EJ: I would evaluate my performance so far as needing and wanting more. With it being my last year here at City I\u2019m always expecting more from myself. Being decent is good until decent doesn\u2019t help your team in big moments in big games. Keeping myself hungry and always knowing there\u2019s something more I can do to help the team keeps my motor going. Overall, just more work on the little details and fine-tuning my craft.<\/p>\n
Q: As a defensive player, how important is it to create pressure and make plays behind the line of scrimmage?<\/p>\n
EJ: As a defensive end, I feel like it\u2019s the most important thing to create pressure and make plays behind the line. Putting offenses in uncomfortable situations and making them do things they\u2019re not ready for is a major recipe for success.<\/p>\n
Q: As the season progresses, how important is communication among the defensive players in making sure everyone is on the same page?<\/p>\n
EJ: As we go deeper into the season, communication is the biggest thing for us moving forward. We\u2019re becoming vocal as a unit, and we\u2019re seeing very big changes in our defense because of it. The way we attack the ball, the way we play, the effort, even our aggression and how fast we react to the ball. Even if we\u2019re wrong, being on the same page and communicating will make us right always.<\/p>\n
Q: What stands out to you about Modesto, and what challenges will its offense present to your defense?<\/p>\n
EJ: One thing that\u2019s always stood out to me about Modesto is how sound they are as a unit. They play very well together and capitalize on your mistakes big time if not ready for what\u2019s happening. We have to play our game, stick to the game plan, trust in each other, communicate, and have each other\u2019s backs through it all.<\/p>\n
Q: After going through a two-game losing streak and then responding with a win, what did that stretch teach you about this team\u2019s resilience, and how can you use that lesson moving forward?<\/p>\n
EJ: The stretch taught me a lot about our resilience. When guys could\u2019ve put their heads down and pouted, they didn\u2019t. Everybody from starters to guys who are shirting this year came to practice every day ready to work, fix our mistakes, and help each other get better. We went through a lot of ups and downs, but it made us stronger and closer to each other, and I wouldn\u2019t have had it any other way, knowing what we have in store for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n
Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n
Anthony Galaviz<\/a><\/p>\n The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n Anthony Galaviz writes about breaking news\/sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He\u2019s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.\u00a0
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