When he wasn’t on the field or in the gym, the Gee-Gee’s Jackson Bennett could be found in class or at the library. His talent, discipline and hard work made him what he is today — a professional player in the CFL and a new recipient of an Honours BSc in Environmental Science with an option in environmental geochemistry and ecotoxicology.
The very first time he stepped on a football field in his early teens, Jackson already was dreaming of making it as a professional, a dream that seemed predestined, as he soon stood out as an exceptional player and an outstanding teammate.
He joined the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees in 2014 as a defensive back at the same time he started out at the Faculty of Science. His skills on the field and his ability to excel at various positions did not go unnoticed. As a matter of fact, he was honoured on multiple occasions, starting with a spot on the 2014 OUA All-Rookie Team in his first year with the team.
His brilliant university football career however had its obstacles. He never gave up despite an injury that kept him from playing for an entire season. “Things are not always easy, but it’s important to keep working hard and focusing on our goals, and to never give up,” he says.
His return to the game in 2016 earned him a place as a second team OUA all-star. In 2017, he racked up countless honours, including being named an OUA first team all-star, uOttawa's Football Team Most Valuable Player award and the Athlete of the Year award, the University of Ottawa’s highest athletic honour.
The following year, he was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2018 CFL draft.
During his time at university, Jackson learned to skillfully manage his schedule. He put in long days and worked hard, whether donning his garnet and grey jersey or his white lab coat. But in the final two years, the difficulty level increased for the running back, who now wears the Ticats’ colours. Playing professional football while completing his university studies was a significant challenge.
“Sport taught me to manage my time. But it was not easy. Classes were getting tougher and tougher, so I asked for help. It’s important to remember that people are there for you, they’re right next to you,” says Jackson, who is grateful to have had such great support. The people he met and worked with at the University of Ottawa are part of his best memories, something he will never forget.
Driven by passion
While sports are an integral part of Jackson Bennett’s life, so is his academic path. “I went to school for the football, but first and foremost for the education. In my family, sports are important, but school always comes first,” says the new graduate. His chosen field of study stemmed from his passion for nature and the planet. Achieving his football goals so early in his career has not dampened his academic ambitions.
“I could play football as long as I wanted to but one day it’s going to end. The body may not last as long as you want and at the peak performance, at some point you need a plan B. Completing a degree was important for me. Once I’m done football, I'll be able to have something to fall back onto and a career to do and have some leverage in the workforce.”
What would be his dream career after football? “I was looking more into the oil, petroleum and energy sector because I feel like I can make a big impact in that field — how we can better use our energy overall with respect to the environment and how we can move forward as a society to bring more efficient and sustainable ways to go about our business. I’m not too certain exactly what job that would be, but I know that this is the field that interests me.”
Jackson says that while he is very much looking forward to being back on the field with the CFL, he still cherishes the dream of playing in the NFL. But he has never lost sight of a career in environmental science and is considering the idea of doing his master’s to further explore his academic field of interest.
We wish him the best of luck in making all his dreams come true!
Join us in celebrating Jackson’s accomplishments and those of his Faculty of Science classmates at the Convocation ceremony on Wednesday, June 17, at 4 p.m.