Jackson No. 1 among locals

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2001 | 10:23 a.m.

Local prep football coaches have a lot to be proud of.

Last year Cheyenne High School defensive lineman Lynn McGruder was one of only three players outside the state of California to be selected to the Las Vegas Sun's Super 11 first team. Another local product, the late Mario Hagan of Chaparral High School, was a second team choice.

And this year Eldorado High School running back Steven Jackson finished 18th in the ballotting to make the Super 11's second team.

That means out of the top 45 prep football prospects to come from the West Coast the last two years --- there were 12 first teamers a year ago because of a tie for the final spot --- Las Vegas high schools have produced three of them. That's more than the total that talent-rich states such as Washington and Colorado have produced in the same span.

The 6-1, 200-pound Jackson, who is expected to sign with Oregon State on Wednesday, had the third-best finish among running backs in the voting, finishing only behind San Diego Lincoln's Dwayne Wright and Arizona Player of the Year Michael Bell of Tolleson High in Phoenix.

"When he plays hard, he could be as good as any of them," one college coach said of Jackson. "He has a nice combination of power and speed."