Joe Jackson to quit football due to injury

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina linebacker Joe Jackson has decided to stop playing football because of a neck injury.

A junior from Jacksonville, Florida, Jackson was injured in the opener against South Carolina. In a statement from the school Thursday, he said he had consulted with his family and doctors to make what he called "a difficult decision" to stop playing football.

Jackson entered the season listed as the starting weakside linebacker and had four tackles in the opener. He played in eight games as a reserve last year.

The school also said redshirt freshman safety Cameron Albright would miss the rest of the season after having microfracture surgery on his right knee earlier this month.

North Carolina (3-1) plays at Georgia Tech on Saturday.