Chinese folk hero and Arizona State RB Jackson He enters the Transfer Portal

| American Football | 03/13/2022

Jackson He made history in December of 2020 becoming the first-ever Chinese born player to score a touchdown at the FBS level. Now, the Arizona State walk-on running back has entered the transfer portal and will have one year of eligibility remaining. The Shaoguan, China native thanked the Arizona State program and announced his decision via Instagram.

“After lots of discussions with my family and graduating from ASU I have decided to enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility. I am excited about the opportunity to continue my playing career and further my education. Thank you, Sun Devil Nation, once a Sun Devil, always a Sun Devil, Forks up.”

The viral sensation previously spent two years at the University of Jamestown, an NAIA school in North Dakota, before playing three seasons at Arizona State. This leaves him one season of college football left as the 2020 season didn’t count toward his eligibility due to the pandemic.

His viral fourth quarter touchdown in an ugly blowout was seen by tens of millions as the reserve tail back become a national folk hero both back in China and in the US. With his historic score, the 5’9 215-pound running back helped grow niche game in his home country as millions tuned in to watch his college football touchdown. The walk-on’s touchdown caused the Arizona State athletics website to crash as millions of people scrambled to find out more about the foreign tailback.

Make no mistake, this was no publicity stunt by Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils.  Jackson earned that touchdown. Not only by relentlessly driving his legs and crossing the goalline, but by bringing effort every day as a fierce competitor on the Sun Devils scout team, week in and week out for years.

Before joining the Pac-12 program He was a dangerous offensive weapon at the University of Jamestown (NAIA) recording 406 total yards and two touchdowns for the North Dakota program. The stout tailback also played for the Foshan Tigers in the Chinese National Football League before becoming a Sun Devil.

Now entering his final year of college football, he leaves a proud legacy at Arizona State, appearing in three games, recording four carries for seven yards and one touchdown heard around the world.

Whatever school is lucky enough to land the Chinese talent will have a high character player with an amazing fan following.

Read more about Jackson He’s incredible football story here

 

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and