ASU RB Jackson He’s journey is one of preparation and determination

Arizona State running back Jackson He prides himself on being prepared and open for whatever opportunity comes his way.

The redshirt junior in his second year with the Sun Devils finally got his chance to hit the field during Arizona State’s blowout victory against the rival Arizona Wildcats on Dec. 11, becoming the first Chinese-born player in FBS history to score a touchdown.

😈 JACKSON HE FOR SIX 🔱

THE FIRST CHINESE BORN PLAYER TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN IN FBS HISTORY.

🎥 https://t.co/HMaplp5m7s pic.twitter.com/KKMatXBT1u

— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) December 12, 2020

The journey to get to that important milestone in He’s career would be improbable had it not been for his determination both on and off the field.

He, whose birth name is Peizhang, came to the United States from Shaoguan, China, as a 17-year-old. He said in a press conference Thursday that his parents believed the states would provide him a better education and more opportunities.

Attending Lutheran High School in San Diego, He not only worked hard to learn English by watching American shows like Big Bang Theory, but also tasked himself with playing sports.

He said he didn’t play sports very much as a child, mostly ping pong and basketball, and didn’t know anything about football.

That was until one conversation changed his life.

“I was walking around on campus in high school and a teammate’s parents came to me and said like ‘You’re big and you should play left tackle,” He said. “I was like I want to try new things because I came into a new environment.”

So after doing some research on the sport and the position, He hit the field and fell in love with the physicality of the sport.

 

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A post shared by Peizhang Jackson He (@actionjacksonhe)

“I put on my helmet and shoulder pads and I start hitting people and I’m like, ‘Oh man, I love this sport,” He said in a video on Arizona State University’s YouTube page.

As with most experiences when trying something new, it wasn’t easy at the start. That didn’t discourage He.

“The first season was really miserable because I don’t know nothing about football, but my teammates and my coaches, they were really supportive and they were really patient,” He said. “So they teach me a lot of detail and teach me a lot of rules and then had me watch film.”

“Sports is the only thing that you can get whatever you put in,” He said. “Hard work pays off.”

The hard work on the field in San Diego did pay off as He went on to play for the University of Jamestown in North Dakota, gathering highlights before opting for better weather and more opportunities in Tempe.

He upon arriving in the Valley stated his intent to suit up for maroon and gold.

He said the coaches were impressed with his film and running style, telling him the next day that he made the team.

 

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A post shared by Peizhang Jackson He (@actionjacksonhe)

“It’s unbelievable, it’s amazing to have this opportunity,” He said. “I’m blessed.”

Suffice to say He was not deterred in his goal of joining Arizona State as a walk-on, coming from a small high school in San Diego and an NAIA college while just learning the sport a handful of years ago, even if he was lower on the Sun Devils’ running back depth chart.

“You just have to be prepared for everything that’s coming to you so when your chances come, you can just take over,” He said.

And take over He did when he got his chance against the Wildcats, being the talk of Twitter by making history for his home country and proving what’s printed in Chinese on the shirt presented to him by co-defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce. It read: “Chinese can ball too.”