Arizona State’s Jackson He becomes 1st Chinese-player to score TD in FBS history

Arizona State’s Jackson He became the first Chinese-born player to score a TD in FBS history

It will go down as the score that made it 70-7 for Arizona State over Arizona on Friday in the Pac-12 rivalry. The significance is far greater when it comes to FBS history.

Jackson He scored for the Sun Devils. In doing so, he became the first Chinese-born player to score a touchdown in FBS history.

The 5-foot-9, 220-pound running back was born in Shaoguan, China.

A profile by AZfamily.com explained the redshirt junior’s name is He Peizhang. When he came to America, a teacher asked him what name he wanted to use, as it was a common practice for Chinese students to take an Americanized nickname to help fit in. After some thought, He—a Michael Jackson fan at the time—had an answer.

That is how He became Jackson He.

The complete and fascinating story can be read here.