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Michigan State Football: Jalen Watts-Jackson becomes American hero

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 17: Defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson #20 of the Michigan State Spartans runs the football into to end zone for the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines during the final seconds of college football game at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 27-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 17: Defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson #20 of the Michigan State Spartans runs the football into to end zone for the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines during the final seconds of college football game at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 27-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Former Michigan State football player Jalen Watts-Jackson goes from being a Spartan hero to American hero, joining the Air Force.

It all started with a botched punt. Jalen Watts-Jackson went from buried in Michigan State’s defensive back depth chart to Spartan hero.

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Michigan’s Blake O’Neill dropped a long snap with 10 seconds left and Michigan leading 23-21. If he had gotten the punt off, the Wolverines would have been able to let it bounce around for 10 seconds, winning the game in Jim Harbaugh’s first season.

Fortunately for Michigan State, Watts-Jackson was in the right place at the right time. O’Neill picked the ball up, tried to get the punt off, but was hit by two Spartans, jarring the ball into Watts-Jackson’s arms as he fled down the sideline and into the end zone for a last-second victory for Michigan State.

Although he broke his hip on the play, he would have done it again for his team.

That selflessness made him an instant Michigan State hero and Spartan legend, but now he’s ready to become an American hero.

According to Hondo Carpenter of Spartan Nation, Watts-Jackson has decided to forgo his final year of football (which would have been elsewhere) to enlist in the Air Force.

Watts-Jackson’s father served in the military and he decided it was a good idea to follow his footsteps. This is yet another selfless move in the young man’s life and this goes to show he’s going places and has a bright future.

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Not many football players would give up their dreams of playing in the NFL, although Watts-Jackson was a long-shot, for military service, but this kid is cut from a different cloth.

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