Meanwhile, his shuttle (4.28 seconds) and three-cone (7.09 seconds) were also impressive. Lacks the willingness to really be a great run defender. Jackson saw a considerable uptick in production as a junior. Whats more, Jackson has fluid hips and powerful bend to work through half-man engagement. Drawing attention with his athleticism and pass-rush production, Jackson was named the All-Big VIII League Defensive Lineman of the Year amongst multiple honors. Pass Rush Moves: The best way to describe Jacksons pass rush moves is inconsistent. Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Drake Jackson looks like a discount Kayvon Thibodeaux. Despite this, its possible that NFL franchises could look at him as more of a hybrid rusher and use him at both positions. Hes great at cutting back inside on stretch plays, and sliding past reach blocks and grasps to cut off gaps. - Helped Corona. Similar athletes although I think Jackson is a hair shorter, a bit thicker, and just a bit less athletic overall. Nov 14, 2022 Nikko Buenavidez. USC EDGE Drake Jackson 6-foot-3 265 pounds Yahoo Sports' 2022 NFL draft grade 5.69 possible second-rounder; starter potential TL;DR scouting report A 4-star Rivals recruit (No. In 2019, Drake Jackson missed two games after suffering an injury to his left foot that left him in a walking boot. Moments of above-average upper-body strength. Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. This event is exclusive to the A's program. As noted earlier, Jackson should take advantage of his pass rush arsenal more often, as his athleticism gives him clear upside on finesse moves. 0:12. 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. The draft is scheduled to be held in the plaza outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 27-29, 2023. There are times where he throws out a move or two and looks unstoppable, but Jackson doesnt keep that up long enough to become as dominant as hes clearly capable of. Struggles to work through traffic and hold the perimeter. HT: 6040WT: 255WING: N/AARM: N/AHAND: N/ADOB: 4/12/2001, Year: Redshirt SophomoreHigh School: Centennial (Corona, CA)HS Rating: 4 star (0.9725)Phil Steele: PS#137. His speed to get into the backfield and chase down the opposing quarterback is one of the best elements of his game. With Jackson, though, its very easy to see his overwhelming talent shining through. . He's a player who once received top-10 hype; however, his stock declined mightily over the season while others rose. Arm length: 34 Hand size: 10 1/8 Athletic testing 40-yard dash: N/A Vertical jump: 36.5 Broad jump: 127.0 As signing day approached, Jackson was reportedly choosing between USC and my own alma mater, Arizona State. Jackson lined up as both a defensive end and outside linebacker in the Trojans defense. He was a second-team All-Pac-12 pick as an 18-year-old . These issues could result in a limited role early in his NFL career. For that reason, Drake Jacksons 2020 campaign established him as one of the top players in the nation. Go get paid.". Javon Kinlaw. 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. Buy Chargers Tickets. As Drake Jackson burst around the edge two Saturdays ago, that message echoed through his mind. In this scouting report, well breakdown what makes Drake Jackson so special, and why we believe that hes a top prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. After that, there is a group of players who have a realistic shot of being the next pass rusher off the board. Jackson is primarily limited by his inconsistency. This January scouting profile ends with a typically solid Round 2 grade. 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.. Pro Football Network, LLC. newsletter, The Dallas Cowboys should pursue free agent LB Bobby Wagner. School: USC, NFL Combine Data: Born and raised in Corona, California, Jacksons journey to the 2022 NFL Draft began at Centennial High School. Drake Jacksons story is a bit personal for me. Balance is above average but leaves room for improvement. https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/drake-jackson-scouting-report-2022-nfl-draft-usc-trojans-football/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jackson is an ascending pass-rusher with the athletic tools and upside capable of making him one of the Packers' first four picks in the 2022 NFL draft. Flashes closing speed and agility to reach passers from the blind side or up the middle before they can escape. Hell likely be asked to add strength and fill out his frame a bit more, but Jackson shouldnt have a problem making that happen with an NFL-level strength department. Keeps his eyes in the backfield when rushing the passer and uses hands and strength to stay in the play. Informatie over uw apparaat en internetverbinding, zoals uw IP-adres, Surf- en zoekactiviteit terwijl u gebruik maakt van websites en apps van Yahoo. - Named The Press-Enterprise's Defensive Player of the Year and 2018 All-Big VIII League Co-MVP. 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. It was difficult to fully appreciate it at the combine since Jackson didnt participate in much, but USC clocked him at a 4.5 40-yard dash following Jacksons sophomore year. Shoots like a rocket off the line of scrimmage, giving offensive tackles little time to react. 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. While his draft stock has fallen off a bit nationally, I still believe that he possesses elite traits that will really come alive at the NFL Combine. On film, Jackson has tremendous quickness off the line of scrimmage to beat offensive linemen out of their stances. Drake Jackson (USC): 10'7" Jermaine Johnson . Jackson, 20, had five sacks, a forced fumble and interception in 10 games with the Trojans last season as a junior. He enters full-man engagement too willingly and fails to regularly use his lateral agility, jab steps and body language to force openings. He has excellent height and solid weight for the linebacker position, but would be considered underweight as a defensive end. Struggles to maintain his rushing path through contact. Reacts well to draw plays and misdirection, sniffs out screens to his side of the field. 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. UCLA vs Arizona Scouting. As always, you can find us on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram. In many ways, he reminds me of a better version of former Trojan Devon Kennard, an eight-year veteran now playing with the Cardinals. 77. That wouldve been third among EDGEs at the combine this year. Specifically, he sometimes plays high and shoots his hands late. Its my belief that Drake Jackson best fits as a defensive end in the NFL. Jackson finished starting six of the Trojans 11 games in 2021 and finished the year racking up 8.0 tackles for loss, five sacks, and one interception. UCLA vs USC Scouting Report. Height: 6'4 | Weight: 250 lbs | Class: Junior. Makes some stellar plays in the run game, but should be more consistent. Jackson started for USC three years and left the Trojans with 103 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced . Analysis: Jackson is an instinctive, disciplined defensive front-seven prospect with a variety of skills. Strong Points. Good foot quickness and agility. People have questions about the Cowboys, and we strive to provide the answers. Be sure to followNFLDraft Lounge for more scouting report coverage, as well as more on Drake Jackson. All Rights Reserved. Dropped 25 pounds since his freshman season. AboutPressCopyrightContact. The five-man unit of left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard Rodger Saffold, center Mitch Morse, right guard Ryan Bates, and right tackle Spencer Brown was underwhelming to say the least. Processing: Much of Jacksons game can be summed as inconsistent, which speaks partially to his football IQ. With excellent change-of-direction ability, he dances around the line of scrimmage and drops back into coverage fluidly when tasked with doing so. Shoots like a rocket off the line of scrimmage, giving offensive tackles little time to react. Jackson should be a stand-up outside linebacker in the NFL, at least until he adds some more lower-body strength to hold up as a legit defensive end. Jackson was an immediate contributor at USC. Jackson also demonstrates impressive football intelligence. 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. As a run defender, the USC OLB repeatedly demonstrates impressive pursuit speed, whether close to the line of scrimmage or in space. Ultimately, I believe that Drake Jackson will come off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft towards the end of the first round. While straight-line speed doesnt always translate to play speed, Jackson has showcased excellent play speed throughout his USC career. Strong wrap up tackler. Further, Jacksons playstyle has not changed to accompany his 20-pound weight drop. Whats more, Jackson does not recognize his ability to threaten the inside and outside tracks on a play-to-play basis. Photo Credit: john McGillen/USC Athletics, 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: USC EDGE Drake Jackson, 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Liberty QB Malik Willis, 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Texas A&M IOL Kenyon Green, Tyjae Spears Prepared To Show Out At 2023 NFL Combine, Jalin Hyatt Poised For Top Performance At 2023 NFL Combine, 2023 NFL Draft: Quarterback Position Rankings Pre-Combine, 2023 NFL Draft: Most Likely Landing Spots For Free Agency Quarterbacks, Eric Bieniemy And Commanders Should Focus On QB This Offseason, 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ohio State OT Dawand Jones, Excellent Quickness And Agility Off The Line Of Scrimmage, Possesses Some Of The Best Body Lean And Bend In This Class, Fantastic Timing With His Hands To Stun Offensive Linemen, Fails To Incorporate Spins And Twists Into Repertoire, Can Struggle With Change Of Direction In Coverage, Adequate Speed And Quickness To Attack Ball Carriers On Outside Runs. Jackson became the first true freshman to start a USC season-opener on the defensive line since Everson Griffin in 2007 and was named a 247 freshman first-team All-American after finishing the season with 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three pass defenses. Drake Jackson NFL Draft Profile Position: Outside Linebacker School: USC Current Year: Junior Height: 6'2 5/8 Weight: 254 pounds Wingspan: 82 5/8 Arm: 34 Hand: 10 1/8 Drake Jackson Scouting Report Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. 17 min read. Athletic, versatile, with some impressive pass-rush moves, Tony Paulines scouting report for Drake Jackson, the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. Drake Jackson Scouting Report Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Oops. Decently explosive. Tormented by the decision, he recorded two versions of his commitment video. Drake Jackson has a lot of upside just for his athletic ability. Although not particularly flashy statistics for a pass rusher, it was just a precursor for more extraordinary things to come. In 2020, Jackson proved he can succeed at this lighter weight. He owns several pass-rush moves, including a killer spin move and an awe-inspiring ghost move. Hes very intentional with his foot placement and has exceptional bend to get around tackles, which he pairs nicely with his top-end burst. He often initiates contact with active, refined and accurate hands; further, he exhibits a varied pass-rush arsenal. I think he thinks hes more athletic than he is. Meanwhile, he found additional ways to be disruptive with 3 pass deflections and a first career interception. Very good first step and acceleration. He took a step back during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season but returned to form in 2021. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine primer: Biggest storylines . Possessing exceptional size and length even at a young age, Jackson tallied 29 tackles and 2 pass deflections in his sophomore season. Thats his go-to move, but he also has an excellent spin move. He will find more value in a multiple-front defense because of his versatility, but hes a solid season away from making an impact on the field. When tasked with being the primary edge-setter, Jackson just doesnt have the strength and technical refinement to get the job done. After skipping his final year of high school football to prepare for college, the 2018 U.S. Army All-American made an instant impact in his first season with the Trojans. With a likely draft pick coming somewhere on the second day of the draft, Jackson offers huge upside at a relatively low cost. Height: 63 This would be well-below the league average for both the defensive end, as well as the outside linebacker position. 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