Jackson, 20, had five sacks, a forced fumble and interception in 10 games with the Trojans last season as a junior. Doesnt use his hands much to beat blockers. BaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer. There were some flashes but for the most part, I didnt see much variability. Jackson can be an effective No. Nov 21, 2022 Nikko Buenavidez. To finish off the athletic upside element of his scouting report, Jackson displays explosiveness in his first step. Today we look at a prospect that may not be getting enough attention in USC's Drake Jackson. newsletter, The Dallas Cowboys should pursue free agent LB Bobby Wagner. 61 overall pick. Even on the morning of the announcement, he still hadnt made up his mind. He can sometimes be quelled by bigger offensive tackles and didnt show much of a bull rush. I was impressed with how he played in the passing game. After making an impact in his sophomore year, the athletic defender broke out in his junior season. Even when he plays at a heavier weight, Jackson has that versatility, and he showed up to USC's Pro Day at 273 pounds and had a good workout. He's a player who once received top-10 hype; however, his stock declined mightily over the season while others rose. 1. Download 2021 NFL Draft Guide Draws consistent double teams and can still beat them too, Works primarily as a stand-up rusher but also puts his hand in the dirt. Jackson, who just turned 21 years old, produced 25.0 tackles for losses and 12.5 sacks over 28 games (26 starts) at USC. Copyright 2019-2023. This would be well-below the league average for both the defensive end, as well as the outside linebacker position. Moments of above-average upper-body strength. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine His moves take full advantage of his unique athleticism, even if it leaves one wishing he would use these moves more consistently. Daxton Hill, SAF, Michigan (Scouting Report) 4. Lets dive into those before looking at the areas for improvement on his report. With a likely draft pick coming somewhere on the second day of the draft, Jackson offers huge upside at a relatively low cost. He played at 275 pounds early in his USC tenure; illness saw him lose a lot of weight. Reacts well to draw plays and misdirection, sniffs out screens to his side of the field. Jackson lacks any real counters but he will occasionally use his athleticism to dip and dart his way through the interior of the offensive line. A native of Corona, California, Drake Jackson attended Centennial High School. Once he does, hell be a much more natural fit in the trenches, as opposed to being the sort of tweener he is now. Whereas this fails to materialize for some recruits, he became the first true freshman to start a season opener for the Trojans since 2007. Hell need to add some muscle to keep from getting misdirected and tossed on the line. That obviously didnt happen; Jackson had a solid year but USC struggled all year, firing their head coach just two games in and then losing six of their last seven contests. As noted earlier, Jackson should take advantage of his pass rush arsenal more often, as his athleticism gives him clear upside on finesse moves. Dropped 25 pounds since his freshman season. With ties to Mike McCarthy, free agent CB Kevin King could be an option for the Cowboys. His hand usage is aggressive, which allows him to drive back offensive linemen or win on a regular-basis on the outside. Doesnt look like he knows how to use his hands very well. D'Marco Jackson (Appalachian State): 4.55; . U kunt op elk moment uw keuzes wijzigen door naar Uw privacy-instellingen te gaan. 49ers. Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) February. But USC junior outside linebacker Drake Jackson eliminated any doubt Friday as he declared that the 2021 season will be his last in college before leaving for the NFL. He excels with: Length, freaky burst/bend/dip combination Areas of concern: Hands are more active than they are effective, 2021 film featured spindly frame with lacking power. His ability as a speed rusher is always apparent as he is able to turn straight ahead runs with good bend and ankle flexibility into immediate opportunities to get to the quarterback. As a true freshman, he played at nearly 275 lbs but slimmed down to roughly 255 lbs by the time he was a junior in 2021 due to USCs change in defensive schemes. Although the USC star boasts a promising skillset, he is still growing as a prospect. In 2018, the gifted pass rusher continued his impressive career. The same service named him the 56th-ranked recruit in the nation, the third-best strong-side defensive end in his class and the 10th-overall recruit in the state of California. This impacted his play, but Jackson finished on a strong note. While the former four-star recruit has the traits to stack, window and replace, he rarely does so. Drake Jackson NFL Draft 2022: Scouting Report for San Francisco 49ers' EDGE BR NFL Scouting Department April 29, 2022 Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images HEIGHT: 6'2 5/8". Jackson could stand to widen his base a bit and find more ways to play through blocks rather than around them. Coming out of high school, Jackson was a 4-star recruit and the third-ranked EDGE in his class. That also makes it difficult to gauge how deep his pass rush repertoire is and how comfortable he is with each move. Biggest NFL Draft Stories Before the Combine Starts. As a result, his 12 offers had a heavy Pac-12 contingency. There are some genuine concerns about Jacksons strength at this moment in his career. Teams with need at the position:Atlanta Falcons,Arizona Cardinals,Baltimore Ravens,Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions,Houston Texans, New York Jets,Philadelphia Eagles,Seattle Seahawks. Despite this, its possible that NFL franchises could look at him as more of a hybrid rusher and use him at both positions. Here is everything you. Nov 14, 2022 Nikko Buenavidez. He currently struggles to read offensive tackles and can, consequently, employ ill-advised pass-rush moves. Inconsistent as a tackler - not good when runners run directly at him, Could do with improving his technique as a pass rusher - he relies to much on athletic ability something he won't be able to do at the next level. Currently, he sits as the 61st overall player on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. He can get low and he flashed good flexibility, but his poor lower-body strength often allowed him to be knocked off his path. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). A detail of the NFL Scouting Combine logo at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March . Drake Jackson is a toolsy pass-rusher who may benefit a good deal from NFL weight training and coaching. USC DE Drake Jackson joins. Furthermore, he has solid quickness to hold his own when asked to drop into coverage on passing downs. With a 6-foot-4 frame and the athleticism to be a threat at all levels of the field, London has a tantalizing skill set. Additionally, Jackson was in danger of missing time in 2021 after another injury to his left foot but was able to start against Notre Dame following a bye week. Can drop hips and get low, as well as widen out with flexible ankles. The pass rusher still plays like a 275-pound defensive end. On film, Jackson has tremendous quickness off the line of scrimmage to beat offensive linemen out of their stances. Wins the corner in a hurry. Further, he does a great job of reading and diagnosing read-option plays, as well as attacking the ball carrier quickly and efficiently. Was occasionally used as a coverage defender, both man and zone. In fact, Jackson was named to the 2020 All-Pac-12 second team, AP All-Pac-12 second team and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 second team for his second season. Drake Jackson 2021 season highlights. Athletic, versatile, with some impressive pass-rush moves, Tony Paulines scouting report for Drake Jackson, the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. Jackson needs to get better at using his pass rush moves and cycling between them, for one. Hes at his best as a 5-tech without a tight end, as he struggles to work through double teams tremendously. (62%*), 34 Doesnt have great upper body strength. His projected 40 time would also be solid for the linebacker position, but well-above the league average for defensive ends. 2019: Jackson, who enrolled at USC in the spring of 2019 after graduating a semester early from high school, was impressive while starting at defensive end as a first-year freshman . Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia (Scouting Report) 2. The weight change and shift in scheme disrupted his growth in a key year from freshman to sophomore seasons, and the overall decisions made by a head coach and defensive coordinator who felt the heat on their seats weighed more towards trying to keep their jobs as opposed to developing their players. He often initiates contact with active, refined and accurate hands; further, he exhibits a varied pass-rush arsenal. As Drake Jackson burst around the edge two Saturdays ago, that message echoed through his mind. Van Ness is in the same conversation, but could be the best of the bunch. Hell be well served in adding back the pounds he recently shed (weighing 275 his freshman year), and transitioning to a full time defensive end in a 4-3 or a 3-4 system. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: EDGE Drake Jackson By Dylan Chappine February 9, 2022 Big Board ranking: #23 Positional ranking: #5 Overview Position: EDGE College: USC Class: Junior Age: 21 Measurables Height: 6'3 5/8" Weight: 254 lbs. Doesnt get a lot of drive out of his lower body. (59%*), 127 (C) School: USC, NFL Combine Data: Weight: 254 lbs Jackson is a project. Jackson is also very good at reducing inside when tackles beat him to the edge, although that didnt happen very often in college. Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati (Scouting Report) 5. Jackson took on a huge role right away, becoming USCs first true freshman to start a season opener in 12 years. Hand usage needs work. He has a good ability to drive through offensive lineman and plug running lanes between the tackles. Furthermore, Jackson garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Wij, Yahoo, maken deel uit van de Yahoo-merkenfamilie. Please enter a valid email and try again. His speed to get into the backfield and chase down the opposing quarterback is one of the best elements of his game. Hes adept at understanding both man and zone coverage he ensures his positioning is correct when tasked with dropping back into coverage. Consistently wraps up and finishes tackles in the backfield. Manage Settings Be sure to follow NFL Draft Lounge for more scouting report coverage, as well as more on Drake Jackson. Games watched: Stanford (2021), Washington State (2021), Utah (2021), Arizona State (2020). CAREER BACKGROUND. Possessing exceptional size and length even at a young age, Jackson tallied 29 tackles and 2 pass deflections in his sophomore season. Leading the team with 8 tackles for loss, including 5 sacks, Jackson earned second-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Ben Liebenberg/AP Photos. Strong wrap up tackler. Brian is also the owner of the Infinity Sports Network, which NFL Draft Lounge belongs to. He was admittedly in a weird spot with the head coach being on the hot seat each of Jacksons three years there, but Jackson nevertheless didnt blossom into a leader or strong locker room presence. Was listed at 275 pounds in 2019. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 82.70 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: . On passing downs didnt see much variability ) 2, 34 doesnt have great upper strength. As more of a bull rush reducing inside when tackles beat him to be a threat at all levels the. Field, London has a tantalizing skill set State ( 2021 ), Arizona State ( 2021 ), State! Also makes it difficult to gauge how deep his pass rush moves and cycling between,!, but Jackson finished on a regular-basis on the outside linebacker position, but poor. For loss, including 5 sacks, Jackson earned second-team All-Pac-12 recognition, EDGE Cincinnati! 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