CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A year ago, Lamar Jackson shifted uncomfortably in his seat atop a dais in front of a small crowd of reporters. He was a soft-spoken sophomore coming off a rocky freshman season, and he was Louisville's representative at the annual ACC Kickoff -- in large part because head coach Bobby Petrino wanted to see how Jackson would handle the crowd. Public speaking was not Jackson's activity of choice.
But a funny thing happened as Jackson answered a few softballs early in the day. He grew increasingly comfortable, smiled enthusiastically and joked with reporters.