Marlin Jackson is a Colt with Draft Pick No. 29

The Indianapolis Colts, in hopes of improving a pass defense that ranked 28th in the league and surrendered 3,892 yards through the air last season, selected Michigan All-American cornerback Marlin Jackson Saturday with the 29th pick during the 2005 NFL Draft.

Marlin Jackson is the fifth Michigan defensive back chosen in the first round of the draft, joining Charles Woodson (fourth in 1998), Ty Law (23rd in 1995), Dave Brown (26th in 1975) and Thom Darden (18th in 1972). Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy expressed his pleasure in a press conference following the pick. "He played in a system very similar to what we do," Dungy said. "He's a physical guy. That was important to us. We needed to upgrade that part of our game on defense".

Although Jackson is a cornerback/safety "tweener", the advice of Jackson's former coach helped Dungy make the call on where he fits in with the Colts. "I asked Lloyd Carr that question the other day, what he envisioned (Jackson) playing, and he really sees him as a corner," Dungy said. "That's where I think he'll play".

Jackson phoned in to the press conference and commented on being taken by Indianapolis, "I'm going to be on the same team as Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison," he said. "It's great to come into an organization that's all about winning and being competitive. That's what it's about, being competitive and trying to win and trying to be the best. And that's what the organization in Indianapolis is all about."

Jackson joins former Michigan teammate Cato June (linebacker) on the Colts defense and should compete for one of starting cornerback jobs early. Practice will once again be a daily challenge for Jackson, after years of covering Braylon Edwards every day, he now locks up against one of the NFL's elite receivers in Marvin Harrison. "Marvin's a smaller, quicker guy, more elusive and probably runs crisper routes than Braylon does," Jackson said of the new challenge. "I'll have to get better. Going against a guy like him, I'm a competitor, and that is only going to make me better."