DeSean Jackson, Academics Leading 4-Star to Bypass Texas Schools for Pac-12

New Cal commit Carlos Strickland always knew he wanted to play college football. It was in the elementary school when he knew where he wanted to play.

And Cal fans can thank DeSean Jackson for that.

A 4-star wide receiver, Strickland committed to Cal Tuesday evening and became the Golden Bears' 22nd commit, according to 247Sports. Strickland, who picked Cal over UCLA and Texas Tech, is the fifth receiver pledge for the Golden Bears, but he is the program's first 4-star receiver get.

Strickland, from Dallas, had in-state offers from Texas Tech, Texas, TCU, SMU and North Texas. But playing in-state football played runner-up to the opportunity of playing on the West Coast against Pac-12 competition. More specifically, playing in-state ball couldn't match up to the school he's backed for years—the school that produced two of his favorite players, Jackson and Marshawn Lynch.

"Believe it or not, Cal has always been my dream school," Strickland said. "I've wanted to go there since I was a young kid."

Strickland, a former Texas Tech commit, said his decision came down to Cal and UCLA. He originally committed to Texas Tech in October but decommitted earlier this month.

While there are several reasons supporting Strickland's decision, watching what Jackson did in a Cal uniform quickly turned Strickland into a fan. Jackson caught 162 passes for 2,423 yards and 22 touchdowns from 2005-07. He played three seasons before declaring for the NFL draft in 2008.

"My first time seeing him play was in the fifth grade," Strickland said of Jackson, who just finished his seventh season in the NFL, with his first six in Philadelphia and this past season in Washington. "His style of play really intrigued me and had me wanting to learn more about the position."

Strickland saw Jackson's blazing speed and play-making ability, and was instantly drawn to the position player and the Golden Bears overall. Strickland said he always tried to be a similar player on the field—even though, physically, they are opposite in build. Jackson is 5'10" and 178 pounds. Strickland is 6'5" and 194 pounds.

Cal is hoping that Strickland can be the big-play target Jackson was during his college career. Strickland caught 41 passes for 896 yards and averaged nearly 22 yards per catch as a senior. Strickland also scored 15 touchdowns.

As big of a fan Strickland is of Jackson, he's also a fan of what Cal stands for off the football field. Cal is a recognized academic institution, and Strickland plans on being a pre-pharmacy student.

"I'd say [academics] played a major factor with my top two," Strickland said. "Both schools are powerhouses from that standpoint. They all have good academics, but when I went out there, it just felt like home. I think that's what pushed me over."

All of Cal's positives landed the nation's 16th-ranked receiver and the 20th-ranked player from the state of Texas. The 2015 season will be loaded with several Cal senior receivers, including Bryce Treggs, Stephen Anderson, Chris Harper, Trevor Davis and Maurice Harris—which means Strickland will have a chance to learn the system as a freshman and then become a go-to option by sophomore year.

Or, if he works hard enough, he could be an impact player sooner than later.

"They are telling me they want me to come in with the mindset of ripping it up early," he said. "When I get here, I can't BS around. I've got to come with a chip on my shoulder. I don't think they're redshirting me, so I'm going to go in and get my minutes."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon on Twitter: @DamonSayles