A detail of the NFL Scouting Combine logo at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March . As a run defender, the USC OLB repeatedly demonstrates impressive pursuit speed, whether close to the line of scrimmage or in space. Jackson looked to pack a more powerful punch in his freshman year, before he dropped weight, and doesnt seem to have done as good a job at converting speed to power in order to make up for that. He was also awarded Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention. Door op Alles accepteren te klikken, gaat u ermee akkoord dat Yahoo en onze partners uw persoonlijke informatie zullen verwerken en technologien, zoals cookies zullen gebruiken, om gepersonaliseerde advertenties en inhoud weer te geven, voor het meten van advertenties en inhoud, inzicht in de doelgroep en productontwikkeling. Jackson played both as a 3-4 RUSH EDGE as well as a 4-3 defensive end. Best Scheme Fit: 3-4 (can also work in a 4-3). When hes lined up inside the defensive line, his stunts have a wide arc, putting him behind the eight ball when penetrating the pocket. Today we look at a prospect that may not be getting enough attention in USC's Drake Jackson. Brian is also the owner of the Infinity Sports Network, which NFL Draft Lounge belongs to. In 2017, Jackson made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Juniors first team, All-CIF Division 1, Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Area first team and All-Big VIII League Defensive Lineman of the Year. 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. He has a good ability to drive through offensive lineman and plug running lanes between the tackles. However, I do believe that hell be the fourth-best edge as we approach the end of April. Gaffney's 5 Best Available for Day 2. Jackson ended his sophomore year with second-team All-Pac-12 recognition for the second consecutive season. Does a fine job of getting downfield to make tackles. Burst: Jackson has incredible burst, and his explosive first step has probably been more responsible for his pass rush wins than any other trait. Height: 6'4 | Weight: 250 lbs | Class: Junior. When used as an outside linebacker in coverage, he does a solid job of pressing tight ends and slot receivers to disrupt their timing with the quarterback. However, as Jacksons scouting report indicates, the former DE-turned-OLB has the athletic upside and pass-rush weapons to be an impactful player in the NFL. Negatives: Lacks bulk and gets controlled at the point or easily knocked from his angle of attack by a single blocker. Drake Jackson is flying under the radar, but that could benefit the Cowboys. There is a lot to like about Jacksons overall game but he is a very unrefined prospect at this point in his evaluation. Every year, the first round of the NFL draft features a handful of trades, as teams try to move up and down the board to maximize value and fill their . In run defense, Jackson needs to add some strength. #99Pos: 3-4 OLBHt: 6035Wt: 254Hand: 1018Arm: 3400Wing: N/A40: N/ABench: N/A3-Cone: N/AShuttle: N/AVert: 36.5Broad: 1007DOB: 4/12/01Eligible: 2022Corona, CACentennial High School. As a result, the Trojan standout gives up his chest and is blown up or controlled by offensive linemen. Two words immediately spring to mind to describe Jackson's abilities on the football field athletic and versatile. Strength is also an issue here. Still just turned 21 years old and will heavily benefit from a single scheme and proper NFL coaching, Experienced as a defensive end in both odd and even fronts, Twitched up athlete who is incredibly quick off the snap, Can beat tackles using his pure speed and ability to dip his shoulders and swim inside, Great ankle flexion allows him to bend the edge and change direction in the middle of the field when dropping into coverage, Has a good radar that allows him to keep an eye on the ball through contact, Can be overwhelmed by bigger tackles and badly needs to add play strength, No real counters in his arsenal even though he will throw the occasional spin move, Lack of a power rush despite his ideal frame and length, Takes very wide angles when adjusting to offensive line blocking schemes mid-play, Production has stagnated since arriving as a true freshman. Hell need to become more consistent and develop an even wider array of moves and counters to reach his full potential at the next level, and his coaches should be eager to help him get there. 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 . He does well to chase players in space from the back side, though. Broad Jump: 127. Athleticism: Jackson plays with top-flight athleticism. DE/OLB Drake Jackson, USC (Scouting Grade: C) 6'3"/255, 2020: 20 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks (6g), Projected: 4.65 40-time, 7.0 3-cone. His hand usage improved in 2021 but needs to be developed more. Javon Kinlaw. While straight-line speed doesnt always translate to play speed, Jackson has showcased excellent play speed throughout his USC career. Was occasionally used as a coverage defender, both man and zone. In the regular-season finale against UCLA, Jackson received Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week merits after generating 5 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He can sometimes be quelled by bigger offensive tackles and didnt show much of a bull rush. Once he does, hell be a much more natural fit in the trenches, as opposed to being the sort of tweener he is now. Do Not register if you are not a part of the A's program. 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. NFL Draft analysis for Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC CBSSports.com 247Sports . Analysis: Jackson is an instinctive, disciplined defensive front-seven prospect with a variety of skills. His size can be an issue in the run game, where bigger tackles are able to entirely remove him from the game pretty consistently. Balance is above average but leaves room for improvement. Heading into the 2021 college football season, Jackson was considered by many to be one of the top prospects in this class. Drake Jackson 2021 season highlights. His moves take full advantage of his unique athleticism, even if it leaves one wishing he would use these moves more consistently. For me, watching what Jackson did next for the Trojans, it hurt even more. Flashes above average bend. Drake Jackson Scouting Report 2022 NFL Draft. 61 overall pick. Caleb Williams: 52 total touchdowns, 4,919 total yards of offense. Doesnt look like he knows how to use his hands very well. The San Francisco 49ers selected USC defensive end Drake Jackson with the 29th pick (No. Can be slow to react to the ball-carrier and come off blocks. Both Maye and Williams are very good prospects, just look at what they did last year. After making an impact in his sophomore year, the athletic defender broke out in his junior season. Plays very well in the passing game. Stringing counter moves together will be vital for his development. His hand-to-hand combat needs improvement. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 82.70 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: . (59%*), 127 (C) He can get low and he flashed good flexibility, but his poor lower-body strength often allowed him to be knocked off his path. He looked more comfortable the wider his alignment was, particularly as a pass-rusher. He took a step back during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season but returned to form in 2021. During his junior year of high school football, he recorded 28 tackles, six sacks, three pass deflections, one interception and one forced fumble. USC DE Drake Jackson joins. While he has shown he has great athleticism, his high-end plays simply do not come out enough. Has a wide-receiver like release. Despite the narrative that he recorded a down year, the star defender performed very well as a sophomore under unique and challenging circumstances. 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. All Rights Reserved. Perhaps the writing's been on the wall since his breakout season as a true freshman. For more on Pickens, check out our scouting report on him. Another documented factor in Jackson choosing USC over ASU was the opportunity to contribute immediately. - Helped Corona. Furthermore, he has solid quickness to hold his own when asked to drop into coverage on passing downs. Fires off the snap, can bend off the edge, and quickly closes to plays. Strong wrap up tackler. USC 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports include Chris Steele and Drake London The USC scouting reports include some high-profile players who could sneak into Round 1 of the NFL Draft, plus some later-round prospects. Cowboys draft 2023: Edge rusher Nolan Smith prospect profile. To finish off the athletic upside element of his scouting report, Jackson displays explosiveness in his first step. Manage Settings USC even dropped him into coverage out of wider alignments from time to time. With Dante Fowler, Chauncey Golston, and Dorance Armstrong already in town, Jackson wont need to play right away. When Jackson has to change directions or move along the line of scrimmage, he just does it so smoothly. With excellent change-of-direction ability, he dances around the line of scrimmage and drops back into coverage fluidly when tasked with doing so. Finally, after delaying the announcement, he committed to USC, stating, I know Im going to be treated good there and know theyre going to make me the right man.. This January scouting profile joins others in emphasizing his distinct lack of grown man strength, and how much he has []. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Be sure to followNFLDraft Lounge for more scouting report coverage, as well as more on Drake Jackson. [] the ground running. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. In 2018, he was named to the 2018 PrepStar All-American team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, All-CIF Division 1, Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Los Angeles Times All-Area team and Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Area first team. In this scouting report, we'll breakdown what makes Drake Jackson so special, and why we believe that he's a top prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. Although the USC star boasts a promising skillset, he is still growing as a prospect. Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati (Scouting Report) 5. He was a second-team All-Pac-12 pick as an 18-year-old . Whichever team selects Jackson needs to be aware that he will require a lot of coaching up. The USC OLB struggles to set the edge in the ground game. During a senior year where he was named All-Big VIII League Co-MVP after racking up another 27 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 6 pass deflections, Jackson visited USC, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington, and Illinois. The poor overall year for USC has distracted from what Jackson can be at the next level. Jackson could stand to widen his base a bit and find more ways to play through blocks rather than around them. By consistently lowering his pad level, the USC defender reduces blockable surface area and substantially improves his functional power. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). 08/22/21 - OLB *Drake Jackson , Jr/2022, Southern California , 6-3, 273 (DS#5 OLB) + More +. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. Let's start with the latter. As an edge rusher, he plays both defensive end and outside linebacker, although I believe that defensive end is a more natural position for him. (62%*), 34 Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) February. Jackson played at 275 pounds as a true DE for USC in 2019. Has a great set of pass rush moves in particular a spin move which when combined with his speed is almost impossible to defend for slower blockers, Is not just an edge threat - has pressured the quarterback multiple times from the inside, Versitile can play both outside linebacker and defensive end. Needs more Leverage in his game. In 2021, Addison was the nation's best receiver, with 100 balls for nearly 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns. When tasked with being the primary edge-setter, Jackson just doesnt have the strength and technical refinement to get the job done. Here is where USC's top prospects stand ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine USC linebacker Drake Jackson sacks Colorado quarterback Brendon Lewis on Oct. 2 in Boulder, Colo. Jackson has. Before National Signing Day, Jackson narrowed down his options to USC and Arizona State. That also makes it difficult to gauge how deep his pass rush repertoire is and how comfortable he is with each move. Possessing exceptional size and length even at a young age, Jackson tallied 29 tackles and 2 pass deflections in his sophomore season. Breaks down well, plays with proper pad level, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Purdue's George Karlaftis went at the end of Round 1 a year ago, and USC's Drake Jackson went a round later; both players were high-upside prospects who exceeded expectations as rookies. UCLA vs USC Scouting Report. Heading into the 2021 season, many expected Jackson to compete with fellow Pac 12 EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux for the top pick in the draft. Can drop hips and get low, as well as widen out with flexible ankles. However, hes still a fairly raw prospect who needs some refinement to make him an effective pass rusher. He has great length for a 63 EDGE and he pairs that with a ton of burst and speed off of the snap. Jackson, who just turned 21 years old, produced 25.0 tackles for losses and 12.5 sacks over 28 games (26 starts) at USC. The now-255-pound athlete has been recorded to have run a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. His long arms allow him to clog passing lanes when tasked with coverage responsibilities. USC EDGE Drake Jackson Scouting Report. Jacksons all-around skill set gives him the versatility to play 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end at the next level. The Cowboys EVP spoke on Tuesday out in Indianapolis. Thats one reason why Jackson would be a great fit in Dallas. Drake London USC #15 Junior Moorpark, CA 6'5" 210. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 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. However, Jackson badly needs to add playing strength and rarely looks like he has a pass-rushing plan other than using his athleticism and speed to beat offensive tackles. Jackson can be an effective No. SCHOOL: USC. He often initiates contact with active, refined and accurate hands; further, he exhibits a varied pass-rush arsenal. Name: Drake JacksonPosition: EDGEHeight: 62Weight: 254 pounds, Combine Results: 36.5 vertical jump, 127 broad jump. Bryce Young's size makes him a risky bet, Anthony Richardson is tantalizing but scary, and a small number of players seem worthy of being first-round picks. He also tallied a tackle for loss in over half of his 11 appearances. 1. While the decrease in weight was simply a result of his having gotten sick and losing his appetite in the offseason, the talented pass rusher liked how he felt, looked and performed in his new frame. 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. The draft guide also includes three-year grades, advanced stats, player comparisons, 2022 NFL Scouting Combine data, 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl grades and much more. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 5 FUM. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. USC only played six games in Jacksons sophomore season due to COVID-19, and Jackson was also adjusting to a new playing weight after shedding 20 pounds due to a drastically different scheme. While he didnt run a 40-yard dash time at either the NFL Combine or USC Pro Day, Jackson reportedly was timed at 4.5 seconds during his Trojans career, which is decent for his size. He wont achieve that first-round hype from the summer, but it would be a surprise to see Jackson slide past the late second-round range in the 2022 NFL Draft. 17 min read. 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