GREEN BAY – Domani Jackson's college career didn't go exactly as planned.

But the cornerback is in the NFL now, as the first of two Packers' sixth-round picks at No. 201 overall.

Initially, the southern Cal native went to USC coming off a knee injury that wiped out all but the first game of his senior season in high school – an injury that occurred shortly after the cornerback nabbed a pick-six in that opener.

The injury delayed his ability to get on the field as a freshman, and then he earned a starting job as a sophomore.

He used that as a springboard to transfer to Alabama, where he resumed a starting role and intercepted two passes, among seven broken up, during 2024.

But then, partway through last season, Jackson lost his starting job for a stretch and was forced to earn it back, which he did for the SEC title game.

The ups and downs were all part of his journey that continues as the second corner the Packers selected in this draft, joining second-round pick Brandon Cisse of South Carolina.

"I shed all my tears," Jackson said of getting the call Saturday afternoon from the Packers. "All my emotions came out."

In discussing his setbacks, Jackson used the same word – perseverance – to describe how he pulled through.

With the injury, "You've got to figure out something else to make you feel better. You just work as hard as you possibly can and, eventually, it'll all work out."

Then getting benched last year? "It's about … finding yourself again and just doing everything that coach asks you to do to win for the team."

That included contributing on special teams and remaining a good teammate. He credits former Packers safety and 2014 first-round draft pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who's the director of player development at Alabama (his alma mater), for helping him keep his head up.

"Ha Ha, he became a brother to me," Jackson said. "He just pulled me aside and had real life conversations. That adversity I was going through during the season helped me get out what I was going through.

"He always told me how great the organization is over there (in Green Bay), the fans, everything about it. So God works in crazy ways. And you know, I guess I'm following his footsteps. So it all works out."

Jackson (6-0¾, 194) is a speedster, having tied the California state record in the 100-meter dash in high school, clocking a 10.25-second time that ranked second in the nation in 2021.

During the pre-draft process, he ran a 4.41-second 40 at the scouting combine and then a 4.45 at Bama's pro day.

He was clued in to the Packers' interest from a couple of calls, the first a Zoom with one of the team doctors (perhaps to discuss the old knee injury) and then a second just this past week from new cornerbacks coach Daniel Bullocks who said he loved his game and told him to "keep an eye on the Packers."

"I'm grateful for the opportunity," Jackson said. "I'm going to prove them right. I'm ready to work whatever it is for the team to win."