Rickey Jackson can name himself loads of issues. An All-American at Pitt, a Professional Bowl, All-Professional, Tremendous Bowl-champion linebacker with the New Orleans Saints and a member of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

However now he can proudly say he’s a graduate of the College of Pittsburgh. Jackson, who left Pitt after the 1980 season to pursue his NFL desires, returned to Pittsburgh to graduate with Pitt’s class of 2023 on the age of 65.

Jackson graduated with a level in social sciences from the School of Common Research.

“My mom would’ve beloved it, my father needed me to get it,” Jackson instructed PittWire. “I do know they’d be pleased with me.”

📜📜📜📜 pic.twitter.com/i37SadzgLd

— Rickey Jackson ⚜️ (@Rickey57Jackson) Might 8, 2023

Jackson was an All-American within the 1980 season at Pitt, forming a star-studded core with Dan Marino, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert, Hugh Inexperienced and Mark Might, on a workforce that went 11-1 and closed the season second within the nation.

In 4 seasons at Pitt from 1977-80, Jackson racked up 290 tackles (166 solo), 21 sacks, three interceptions and 4 go breakups as some of the dominant defenders in school soccer.

The New Orleans Saints chosen Jackson with the 51st choose within the 1981 NFL Draft (a second-round choice), and he spent 13 seasons with the Saints, incomes six Professional Bowl nods and 5 All-Professional honors. He performed two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers after 13 seasons in New Orleans, retiring after the 1995 seasons.

In 15 seasons, Jackson racked up 1,180 tackles, 135 sacks, 40 compelled fumbles and 29 recoveries and eight interceptions, and he was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2010. However commencement is particular.

“I’d put it up with the Tremendous Bowl and all,” Jackson mentioned. “That is one thing I achieved personally by myself, so I’d put it proper up with that.”

On Tuesday, Pitt goal Noah Thomasson dedicated to Georgia over the Panthers, San Francisco, Penn State, St. John’s, and others.

Thomasson is a 6-foot-3 guard out of Niagara who Pitt focused exhausting out of the switch portal. He took an official go to this previous week but additionally visited Georgia weeks prior and finally determined to decide to the Bulldogs on Tuesday.

Thomasson picked the Bulldogs after averaging greater than 19 factors per recreation this season for Niagara and incomes first group all convention honors. He was one of many high guards remaining within the portal and now, Pitt will look to fill one other card spot with one other portal participant.

The Panthers reached out to Marshall switch Andrew Taylor on Monday after he entered the portal. Taylor common 20 factors per recreation for Marshall this previous season an escort over 1600 factors in his collegiate profession.

Pitt Reaches Out to Excessive-Scoring Marshall Switch Andrew Taylor

Pitt has two open scholarships remaining after including Rhode Island switch Ishmael Leggett, and Excessive Level switch Zack Austin out of the portal this low season.

Pitt’s again court docket will probably be led by redshirt freshman guard Dior Johnson, in addition to Leggett, Austin, and incoming freshmen Jaland Lowe and Carlton Carrington.

USA Volleyball Nationwide Staff Improvement Program (NTDP) chosen Pitt incoming first-year duo of proper aspect hitter Olivia Babcock and outdoors hitter Blaire Bayless for the 2023 Ladies U19 NORCECA Pan American Cup from Might 9-15 in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico on Monday.

Bayless stands at 6-foot-2 and earned a rating of the No. 5 recruit within the Class of 2023. She led her highschool workforce to a District 6-6A Championship this 12 months. Bayless obtained district MVP honors, earned a spot on the First-Staff All-District in 2021, and Newcomer of the Yr honors after her sophomore 12 months. She additionally obtained the glory of enjoying within the 2022 Beneath Armour All-American match.

Babcock earned volleymag.com and AVCA First-Staff Excessive College All-American honors, as she led her highschool, Sierra Canyon, to their first ever Division I ladies volleyball championship. She stands at 6-foot-4, and prepdig.com ranked her at No. 27 her class, whereas prepvolleyball.com ranked her at No. 43.

The groups that Babcock and Bayless and the USA squad might compete towards within the Pan Am Cup are Honduras, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico.

USA Volleyball can even compete on the 2023 FIVB Ladies U19 World Championship, and the federation will decide the roster later this 12 months, previous to the August 1 beginning date.