Although some analysts projected him to be drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, DeSean Jackson was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 49th pick overall in the second round.

Jackson ended his career at U.C. Berkeley ranked as the school's third all-time player in receiving yards with 2,433 in three years of play. He is also sixth in receptions with 162. The winner of the 2004 Glenn Davis Award (awarded by the Los Angeles Times for top football recruits coming out of high school), Jackson made an immediate impact with the Cal Bears. In his first year, he had 38 receptions for 601 yards, including a 130 yard, two touchdown performance in the 2005 Las Vegas Bowl against Brigham Young University.