Group names starting tailback Jackson-Garrison honorary chairman

Cassen Jackson-Garrison is not just the starting tailback for the Commodores' football team anymore.

Now, he is also the honorary chairman of "Cassen's Coats and Caps for the Counties," a project that calls for donations of coats and hats for needy children across Middle Tennessee.

Students and Vanderbilt basketball fans have the opportunity to donate gently used or new winter gear at the men's Ole Miss game Saturday.

Coats and hats can be donated at the north, south or east entrances of Memorial Gymnasium prior to the games or can be dropped off at the McGugin Center.

"Here we have students within 100 miles of the Vanderbilt campus with no coats or anything," said Rod Williamson, director of media relations for Vanderbilt athletics. "I would hope that the Vanderbilt community can fully fund the inventory need for this project."

The Community Foundation of Tennessee, the group that sponsors the project, was drawn to Vanderbilt several weeks ago after hearing of Jackson-Garrison's personal childhood story.

Eventually adopted by a couple that led his youth group, Jackson-Garrison sometimes went without food and wore hand-me-down clothing throughout much of his youth in Knoxville, Tenn.

"That story has been out there for a couple years, and the people at the foundation learned about that and saw that he would be an ideal fit," Williamson said. "They originally contacted our football program and heard Cassen Jackson-Garrison's personal story, and they made him honorary chair of this project."