Malik Jackson poses for a photograph during the University of Tennessee’s football media day at Neyland Stadium on Sunday. The Volunteers play Montana to open up the season.KNOXVILLE — Malik Jackson was his typical self in his Friday visit with reporters.
It’s been two weeks, however, since the University of Tennessee defensive tackle was his typical self on the field.
Jackson sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee when his foot landed on offensive lineman Dallas Thomas and two other players fell into his leg, but apparently it takes more than three players to take out the senior standout.
“It could have been a lot worse. I’m just happy it wasn’t an ACL or something,” Jackson said Friday.
The loss of their best defensive lineman for a significant amount of time would have been a devastating blow to the Volunteers. Jackson, who transferred to UT from Southern Cal last summer, has had a prior issue with his patella tendon, but he called the sprain his first major injury.