Cal’s Jackson in the (end) zone

BERKELEY, Calif. – Only four games into his sophomore season at Cal, wide receiver DeSean Jackson has found a home.

It’s called the end zone.

The Bears’ prized recruit of the 2005 class already has developed into one of the nation’s top wide receivers as well as becoming a dangerous punt return specialist.

He is averaging a touchdown a game for his career, which spans only 15 games. He has scored seven touchdowns so far in 2006.

Jackson added two more touchdowns last Saturday in a 49-21 win over Arizona State, with one coming on an 80-yard punt return. He was so far clear that he did a little show-boating as he crossed into the end zone.

“I was talking to (teammate) Robert Jordan the other day,” said Jackson, who signed with Cal out of Long Beach Poly High School. “I was telling him how I would rather score touchdowns than make a lot of catches. I would rather have 60 catches and 18 touchdowns than 70 catches and 13 touchdowns.

“I love scoring touchdowns. To hear the crowd to hear people calling my name.”

If he continues at this pace, they will be writing his name in the record books. Sean Dawkins (1990-92) scored more touchdowns (31) than any wide receiver in Cal history. Jackson could wipe out that record by the time he is done.

And, although far off in the future, his touchdown-a-game pace would allow him to rival Cal’s career record of 42 touchdowns set by Duke Morrison back in Cal’s Wonder Team years of 1920-22. The Bears were 27-0-1 during Morrison’s time with the program.

Of course, there will be lots of defensive backs and coaches trying to make sure Jackson never achieves that lofty status.

“Oh my goodness, he is so impressive,” said Oregon State coach Mike Riley, who must find a way to deal with Jackson on Saturday in Corvallis, Ore. “He makes big plays everywhere. He has great speed combined with athleticism.”

Cal coach Jeff Tedford knows Jackson is fast, but he got kind of a shocker last spring when he had three of his assistants time Jackson in a 40-yard dash on a cold, damp day in Memorial Stadium. Tedford looked at their stopwatches. There was a 4.31, a 4.30 and a 4.29.

“I saw it with my own eyes,” said Cal rover Brandon Hampton, who ran a 4.3 that day but said Jackson was faster. “We didn’t even think we were going to run that day.”

Tedford said his prized wide receiver doesn’t slow down much once he puts on the pads. “His explosion and speed make you take notice,” Tedford said.

His teammates expect him to score touchdowns. “He is the most exciting player in the Pac-10,” said Cal cornerback Daymeion Hughes.