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If there are two things football players can do well, it's compete and eat. Which, Eddie Jackson says, makes his new gig hosting Food Network's "BBQ Blitz" something of a natural fit. "I've been cooking my whole life," the 35-year-old former NFL cornerback says, "and it's one of those things where when I got done playing football, it was like, 'What else do I love to do?' And it was food and cooking and so that's what I started doing. ... And I just opened up my food truck and started cooking for people privately and ended up where I am today." The six-episode competition series, which airs Fridays, goes to cities such as Miami, Dallas, Kansas City and Charlotte, N.C., where three top local grillers, smokers and fire-roasters prepare their signature dishes, then are challenged to transform them into something completely different – all to be evaluated by a panel of judges. The winner gets a $5,000 prize. And this isn't just a ribs and brisket show as literally anything – fish, pork, lamb, chicken, beef, turkey or even vegetables – could be on the grill. Creativity is on display in the stadium-like atmosphere, as the competitors must rely on their imaginations to reconfigure their dishes. "You've got the crowd there rooting you on, screaming," Jackson says." You know, the chefs are going back and forth talking a little trash to each other, and all in friendliness. But I think it adds to the excitement of the show. ... You know, friendly trash talking never hurts so I think that's going to be something that's going to be fun." "It's a competition and there's $5,000 on the line," he continues, "so if you can get your opponent off his game by talking a little trash, then I'm all for it." What book are you currently reading? "I'm reading 'The Alchemist.' One of my clients gave it to me, and I've read the book before. But she gave it to me and wrote me a nice note on the inside cover of it and I'm actually about to finish it up now. And it kind of puts a light on the things that I've been through. So it's pretty funny how things work out." What did you have for dinner last night? "Last night I had some wings. I had a taste for some smoked wings and I got them." What is your next project? "My next project is I want to expand on another food truck, and this one I want to really put a lot of thought into it and make it a bigger and better one than I have now. … They're both going to be in Houston." When was the last vacation you took, where and why? "The last vacation I took was two years ago. I went to the Bahamas and it was a cruise. It was the first time I'd ever taken a cruise and I always wanted to. I loved it and whenever I get done filming and have a good three or four weeks where I know I don't have anything to do, I'm definitely going to take another cruise." Eddie Jackson BY GEORGE DICKIE Jackson goes from the grid to the grill on Food Network's 'BBQ Blitz' Page 8 October 12 - 18, 2015 Nobody Knows Our Hometown Better! • Carpet • Vinyl • Ceramic Mon.-Fri. 8-5 • Sat. 9-1 65669 US 33 East • Goshen 642-4770 TOLL FREE 1-877-642-4770 Area's Largest Selection of Remnants Large Inventory of Carpet, Laminate, Vinyl, and Luxury Vinyl Tiles! OEC Super Buffet 4024 Elkhart Rd Goshen IN 46526 Tel: 574-875-1298 Elk Lunch Monday-Friday 11am-3pm Adult $7.25 Children 2 years old $1.99 3-6 years old $3.50 7-10 years old $5.00 *Saturday Lunch $7.75 Dinner Monday-Friday 3pm-9:30 pm Adult $10.75 Children 2 years old $2.99 3-6 years old $4.50 7-10 years old $6.00 *Sunday Dinner Price ALL DAY $10.75 SENIOR DISCOUNT 10% PRICE

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