If Eagles second-round draft pick DeSean Jackson has half the NFL career his newfound mentor had, then Philadelphia has found something special. In fact, half of his mentor's career statistics would make Jackson the greatest receiver in Eagles history.

Just half of Jerry Rice's legendary career statistics would leave Jackson with 775 catches for 11,448 yards and 97 touchdowns over the course of an 11-year career. While Jackson has a long way to go before he makes even his first NFL catch, he is confident he has the ability to be a game-breaker for the Eagles offense.

Oh, and he can return kicks too.

"It's a blessing, a dream come true. The Philadelphia Eagles were high on my list. I felt like I had a connection with the program, Andy Reid and the rest of the coaches," Jackson said. "It's a dream come true and I am ready to get in there as soon as possible and make great things happen for the team."

The Eagles selected Jackson, a dynamic talent out of California with their second pick in 2008 draft, the 18th pick in the second round, 49th overall.

WR DeSean Jackson

The Eagles' major move on the first day of the draft was trading their first-round pick to Carolina for two picks this year and a first-round selection in next year's draft. But even after moving out of the first round, they still managed to secure Jackson, a player that most projected to be a first-round pick and one that the organization clearly coveted.

Jackson made a visit to the NovaCare Complex before the draft, and said the Eagles organization was one that he felt very comfortable with.

Jackson was one of the most electric talents in all of college football throughout the course of his three-year career. He caught 162 passes for 22 touchdowns, averaging just a shade less than 15 yards per catch. He also returned 38 punts, taking six of them back for scores.

Andy Reid said that he would not have selected a player in the second round simply because of his abilities in the return game, but it could be the phase of the game in which Jackson will make the most immediate impact.

"I am very confident. I can just sit back there and catch the football no matter where it is kicked. I can field punts and I am able to see the whole field," Jackson said. "I can see my blockers and make great moves from there. Once I see a seam, I am going to hit it and take it the distance."

While Jackson will have to adjust to the speed of the NFL game when returning kicks, he will have to learn the intricacies of playing wide receiver from position coach David Culley, the rest of the Eagles coaching staff and the greatest wide receiver to every play the game of football.

"He has all the talent in the world. There's no reason he can't be everything he wants to be at the next level," Rice told the Associated Press. "What I'm trying to let him know is there's a time for speed and there's a time to keep it under control. I had football speed, people, when they were chasing me, I was just able to run away from people."

Rice may have been football fast, but even he couldn't run stride for stride with Jackson in a 40-yard dash. At the Scouting Combine, Jackson ran a blistering 4.35 40, the fastest time of any wide receiver who elected to run.

But world class speed isn't a guarantee of NFL success – just ask Charles Rogers, who is rumored to have run in the neighborhood of 4.30 in 2003 and is now out of football. Jackson knows he has a lot of hard work ahead of him and he is looking forward to starting that work. Dropping out of the first round will only serve as another motivating factor.

"I definitely feel like that will motivate me. I just know I have to come to the Eagles ready to play, I will expect a lot of myself," Jackson said. "I am going to come in right away and try to compete and just get better as soon as possible."

The Eagles didn't make a pick in the first round, but they still got the game-breaker they were looking for. A game-breaker with an outstanding mentor, and now, a chip on his shoulder.