The formula for success at Clayton Valley since the arrival of coach Tim Murphy has always included a premier running back, and this year has been no different with senior Ray Jackson III. For Jackson, however, that success has come despite many obstacles and new challenges in his life, including the birth of his daughter a mere 10 days ago.
Jackson’s daughter, Amaya, was born on October 6, and has added to the myriad of challenges he has faced throughout his life. This challenge, however, is one that has caused the gridiron standout to place perspective on his role in life.
“It’s been a lot to adjust to, but it only makes me work harder,” Jackson said. “With anything I do, it’s in the front of my mind that I now have a daughter to take care of, and she’s going to need me to be there for the rest of her life. And I need to be a successful person, so she can see that, and so I can provide for her.”
Serving as a role model throughout Jackson’s life has been his mother, Rose, who holds two jobs, seven days a week, to provide for her family, which includes Ray's twin sister, Rayana. Rayana is a senior at Ygnacio Valley High School.
Jackson’s father has been in prison for the last 12 years, forcing his mom to not only be the sole financial provider for the family, but also to provide guidance as Jackson made the transition from a boy to a man.
“I’ve never really felt like I’ve had a man in my life, and I know it has been hard for my mom, since she always took on both roles,” Jackson said. “But she does everything for me, and she has always made me happy in life. One of her big sacrifices is that she barely gets any sleep.”
Despite his mom’s tireless efforts, Jackson’s academic path and personal life have continued to combat new challenges over the last four years. Despite running for over 1,000 yards in his sophomore year at College Park, it was decided that Jackson would find a new school to call home, after academic struggles in his first two years had caused him to fall behind on qualifying courses for college.
After enrolling at Clayton Valley, Jackson had to sit out his junior year of football, but he took it in stride and said the entire football program did as well, encouraging him to use the year away from football as an opportunity to study harder and get on track academically. He is scheduled to take the SAT this month, and hopes to meet the qualifying criteria for a four-year college out of high school. Even if that doesn’t happen, though, he intends to continue his football career at a junior college and transfer from there.
“There have been times when it has all become a bit stressful, but I just try to keep the mentality of fighting through everything,” Jackson said.
If the sacrifices made by Jackson’s mother, his father’s incarceration, and the change in schools weren’t enough, Jackson also had to battle personal tragedy within the last year, when two close cousins were killed. He described the family members as two of the most supportive people in his life, being there both with athletics and when needed for financial assistance.
Now, it is Jackson who finds himself in the role of support provider, and he is determined to not only have success for himself, but also to provide support in his daughter’s life. He has been making the drive to Stockton after practice and on the weekends to see his daughter and girlfriend, Alexa, who lives with her family. He said that they plan on making things work through a commitment to each other and their child, and that he was looking forward to the two of them staying at his place this weekend after his game against Northgate.
Among everything else going on in his life, Jackson has continued to excel on the football field. He has already gone over the 1,000-yard mark for rushing yards this season, and is one of the most dangerous backs in the section. That has not been a surprise to anyone within the Ugly Eagle family.
“Ray is a great kid with a good heart,” Murphy said. “He has matured a lot in the last two years, taking care of his grades and responsibilities off the field, and working in the weight room and with how he practices on the field. He has gone from lightning to thunder and lightning in one package, someone who is making guys pay who try to take him down.”
On the other end, Jackson has described Murphy as someone who has been there for him from day one, a coach who has also been teaching him how to be a man, and how to be a dad.
“(Coach) cares a lot about us away from football,” Jackson said. “He wants us to be successful in life.”
Jackson has also described the supportive nature of the entire school and football community with which he has become associated, talking about his meetings with counselors, academic support, and the simple fact that everyone with the program is always excited to see him. All of this, over the past couple years, has helped Jackson to shape his goals and objectives for his future.
“Right now, the big thing is that I need to be able to take care of my family,” Jackson said. “That means taking care of my education, getting my grades in order to go the next level, and hopefully using football as a vehicle to make it out and become successful in life.”
