Oklahoma football: Top 10 Sooner first-round NFL Draft picks
By Chip Rouse
No. 4 – TE Keith Jackson, No. 13 overall, 1988 NFL Draft
One of 37 two-time All-Americans at Oklahoma, is arguably the best tight end in OU football history. He didn’t have as many receptions or receiving yards as other Sooner tight ends, but when he played at OU, the Sooners were a Wishbone, run-oriented offense, and very rarely put the ball in the air.
He ranks 16th on the Oklahoma career pass receiving list, with 68 total receptions over four seasons for 1,619 yards and 15 touchdowns (by comparison Mark Andrews, a likely second or third-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, caught 112 passes in three seasons for 1,765 yards and 22 touchdowns).
It is safe to say, though, that Jackson’s all-around play in the 1980s defined the tight end position for future Sooner players. His 23.66 yards per catch ranks highest among the Sooners’ top career receiving leaders.
Jackson was the 13th overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. He played his first four pro seasons with the Eagles, three seasons with the Miami Dolphins and his final two seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
Named an All-Pro three times and a five-time Pro Bowl selection, Jackson caught 441 passes in nine NFL seasons for 5, 283 yards and 49 TDs.