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“That’s the way the draft works,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “A lot of players went before us that we wouldn’t mind having. Some guys went after No. 10 that helped us get to William. So that was good.”
The 6-foot, 189-pound Jackson III becomes the third cornerback the Bengals have drafted in the last five years (Dre Kirkpatrick in 2012 and Darqueze Dennard in 2014).
A JUCO transfer, Jackson III played two seasons at Houston.
He led the nation and set a Houston record last year with 23 pass breakups. He also led the country with 28 passes defended to go along with five interceptions.
“One of the hardest things for a young corner is playing the ball in the air, and this guy does it naturally,” Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said of Jackson III, who ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the Combine.
“He has exceptional speed,” defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle said. “But his ability to track the ball really impressed us. He’s not just a fast guy.”
Jackson III becomes the first player the Bengals have drafted from Houston since David Klingler in 1992.
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