Michigan Wolverines Football: 30 greatest players of all-time

A product of Sharon (PA) High School, Marlin Jackson first appeared in a Michigan uniform during the 2001 season. He would go on to be one of the more dominant cornerbacks in school history. The Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year, Jackson played so well during his time at Michigan that teams barely threw his way. This led to him being an All-American before all was said and done.

During the 2002 season, Jackson was a safety for the Wolverines, becoming an All-American at the position. With a nose for the ball like few others seen before him, Jackson was a pass breakup machine during his time at Michigan. Teams just stopped throwing his way by the time he was a senior.

Jackson was named the team captain his final year in the Maize and Blue and he did not disappoint in the role. Moved to cornerback for his senior season, he was not only a First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2004, but a First-Team All-American. Jackson ended up being a first-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2005 NFL Draft.

While all his exploits at Michigan are certainly enough to land him on our list, he also has one of the more memorable interceptions in Colts history. Jackson was the man to seal the Colts’ trip to the Super Bowl, after intercepting Tom Brady of the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. He would go on to win a ring that year over the NFC Champion Chicago Bears. An Achilles injury ended his pro football career, but Jackson was something special both in college and in the pros.