It was not simply talent that allowed Vincent Jackson to sign with the University of Tennessee’s baseball team.

Jackson, a senior pitcher and outfielder at Luella, has been working at that goal since he got to Luella four years ago.

Luella coach Andy Cooper said Jackson worked hard to get signed by a college program.

“He put 18 pounds of muscle onto his 6-foot-5 body this offseason,” Cooper said. “His work ethic is what drove him to where he is now, a commitment to Tennessee. And that work ethic is present everywhere for him, not just on the baseball field.”

Cooper said Jackson is one of the rare players who were signed as a dual-threat player. The Volunteers did not make Jackson pick pitching or playing the field. He will be doing both when he arrives in Knoxville next season.

Cooper said he began to realize what kind of player Jackson would be during the latter’s freshman season.

“Early on, he always had the potential,” Cooper said. “He had the body type you look for in a baseball player. He was tall with long arms.”

Cooper said Jackson’s talent developed, and last season he saw something that could be special.

“Last year, we saw flashes of him taking control of his baseball destiny,” Cooper said. “He was making that transition from a good baseball player to a great player during the offseason.”