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Defensive lineman Marquis Jackson, one of the latest free-agent signings by the Lions, offers another different twist in a brother act. He is the identical twin of Malik Jackson, a Super Bowl 50 champion defensive tackle with the Denver Broncos who signed a six-year $85.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year. ...
After being signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent from Portland State by way of Texas Southern, Marquis Jackson has bounced around the fringes of the NFL, getting a prolonged look last year from the Chicago Bears after two seasons honing his pass rushing skills with Arena League’s Portland Thunder.
Lions’ director of U.S. Scouting Ryan Rigmaiden said Marquis Jackson has been targeted for some time by the CFL club, in the hope that similarities with his more celebrated twin hold true.
“Marquis Jackson is a neat story, because of who he is, but it has nothing to do with our evaluation of him,” Rigmaiden said. “Whether Malik is his brother or not, we still would have signed him. Marquis is versatile, quick off the edge, but big enough to play inside and be successful. We’ve been tracking him for a long, long time. I’m sure, for him, being the brother of Malik Jackson is both a blessing and a curse. He’s a heck of player in his own right.” ...
Come walk in Malik Jackson’s shadow. Last season, it seemed his image couldn’t loom any larger. Signing one of the richest contracts in football, he turned down a five-year $53 million deal from the Broncos, the club which drafted him, to join Jacksonville.
Ask Marquis Jackson about it. He knows all about being eclipsed.
“It does bother me,” Marquis admits. “Any time a team brings me in, it makes for a good story. That’s about it. I’d rather keep stories about me be about me, and not have Marquis Jackson always mentioned as Malik Jackson’s brother.” ...
“I want to show I can do it, not just my brother who can do it,” Jackson said. “I’m very anxious to see what goes on at a CFL camp, weight room and locker-room, and really anxious to show that I belong. I do categorize myself as an all-around defensive lineman, who can play all the spots on the defensive line. I pride myself on that.”
As a Doppelganger, Marquis was constantly called “Twin” in high school (Northridge, Calif.) because people couldn’t tell the difference between him and Malik, who actually is an inch taller. It’s not hard to see why he savours any chance to make a name for himself, starting at B.C’s mini-camp in April.