The Oregon Daily Emerald caught up with senior cornerback Talmadge Jackson III after practice this week to talk about everything from his last year to the team’s uniforms.
Oregon Daily Emerald: You’ve been here for four years now. How has this year changed compared to your first three?
Talmadge Jackson III: Mentally a little bit different and physically a little bit different. (I’m) a little bit bigger, a little stronger. I’m better now, so I’ve got to teach the younger guys what I know, and it’s a lot more fun. It’s my last year, so I’m ready to go out with a bang.
ODE: Coming from the diamond-plated uniforms back in ’07, you’ve been able to see the whole uniform progression. What do you think of them?
TJ: It’s cool. I like the new uniforms and everything and the new style we have. We’re innovators, and you see everybody’s kind of copying us now.
ODE: So you think Casey Martin (Oregon’s unofficial uniform coordinator) does a pretty good job come game day?
TJ: We all love them.
ODE: How does it work? You just put on whatever happens to be in your locker on game day?
TJ: Yeah. It’s a surprise to us, too. I mean everybody kind of speculates on what we’re going to wear, but we never know until game day.
ODE: What are your favorites?
TJ: I like the throwbacks. But all black especially — always cool.
ODE: How about music? Anything in particular before games?
TJ: I listen to everything. Rap, R&B, anything that gets me in the mood. I don’t really like to get overhyped.
ODE: Do you think you’ll still run track this spring?
TJ: Hopefully, if I can stick around long enough. I like track. Track was really fun this year, I’d like to do it again next year.
— Lucas Clark