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Associated Press

Clemson’s Rashaad Jackson runs drills during practice prior to the season in Clemson. Despite playing only 11 snaps against Duke last Saturday, Jackson says he finally feels healthy again for the first time since tearing a quad tendon during an Aug. 9 scrimmage.

CLEMSON — Rashaad Jackson bounced into the exit ramp leading from the playing field shrieking like a madman, high-fiving fans, reporters and anybody else with a free hand.

When you’ve sat out the majority of your senior season recovering from knee surgery, the Clemson defensive tackle’s abundance of energy Saturday after beating Duke was understandable.

Adding to his personal frenzy was not only playing his first game at home since Nov. 17 of last season, but Jackson was finally feeling like his old self despite having returned to action two weeks earlier at Boston College.

“It was never even in the back of my mind that I wouldn’t make it back,” Jackson said. “All I could do was stay focused and work hard rehabbing. My only concern was how strong and healthy I’d be when I did get back on the field.”

Despite playing only 11 snaps in the 31-7 win over the Blue Devils, half of what he played the previous week in a loss to Florida State, count Saturday as Jackson’s actual return to health.

“I went over on the sideline and said, ‘Welcome back,’” defensive coordinator Vic Koenning said. “It was good to see him actually being a factor. I’m hoping he’s over some of the concerns about his injury and will keep doing those things we need him to do.

“We kind of had him back for a couple of weeks, but he wasn’t being productive and wasn’t doing things right. Last week he finally went in the correct direction.”

Jackson, a former Union star, had surgery three days after tearing his quad tendon during an Aug. 9 scrimmage. He had played in 37 of 38 games his first three seasons and entered the year as the team’s active leader with 16.5 career tackles for loss.

With bandit end Ricky Sapp being banged up early in the season and defensive tackle Jamie Cumbie lost for the year with a broken wrist, the Tigers have struggled to mount a pass rush in accumulating an ACC-worst 12 sacks.

Jackson had a sack in his second game back against Florida State, leaving him only one off the team lead. Against Duke, Jackson had one tackle for loss, but applied constant pressure and knocked starting quarterback Thaddeus Lewis from the game on a tackle.

“It felt great to be back out there in front of the home fans, and that pretty much is the first time I’ve felt totally healthy,” Jackson said. “It’s not really about finding my legs, it’s about starting to find how I can help my team.”

Jackson provides some intangibles his fellow Tigers in the trenches don’t have, and that includes a constant motor and infectious personality.

“He has a quickness and athleticism that not many of our inside guys have,” Koenning said. “He’s quicker and more explosive. Once he got free, he could make a guy miss and then make a play in the backfield. We’ve had more plays than you can count where we’ve had guys there who weren’t able to make a play.”

Senior safety Michael Hamlin said Jackson is “a playmaker and a big body up front. He’s the type of guy who’s going to get to the ball and be in the quarterback’s face all the time.”

And how about that quirky and loud Jackson persona that’s a combination of enthusiasm and just plain zaniness?

“He’s got a certain personality that’s unique,” Koenning said. “When it’s steered in the right direction, that energy is a little contagious.”

Jackson’s long road back was aggravating not only due to the strenuous rehab and missing the game he loves, but also having to watch his teammates struggle through a season of such discontent. He did his best to stay involved and provide leadership even as he couldn’t get on the field.

“It was frustrating, but at the same time, being a senior, I had to understand I play a great role on this team, so I always had to make sure my head was in the game,” Jackson said. “I had to make sure my teammates were focused and knew what was in front of them.

“Regardless of whether it was on the field or off the field, I wanted to be a part of things and keep my mind in it.”