drake jackson, usc scouting report

Please enter a valid email and try again. Although USC OLB Drake Jackson has seen his NFL Draft stock slide, his scouting report showcases some exceptional athletic upside. 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. Teams should be eager to get him in the building and try to take advantage of his clear upside and dynamic athleticism. He is adept at scraping laterally across the line of scrimmage to locate the ball carrier in the run game. The poor overall year for USC has distracted from what Jackson can be at the next level. NFL Team News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumors, Position: EDGE D'Marco Jackson (Appalachian State): 4.55; . When talking about edge players in this year's upcoming draft, Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeuax is the first name that comes to mind. Nick Bosa. (%*), Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 61 (SF), (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance), SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. This January scouting profile joins others in emphasizing his distinct lack of grown man strength, and how much he has []. He is also great at tracking and chasing down the ball carrier in the run game. The latest ESPN mock draft for the Cowboys just doesnt sit right. He played at 275 pounds early in his USC tenure; illness saw him lose a lot of weight. Needs to expand pass-rush arsenal. - Drake Jackson is a 6-3, 269-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Corona, CA. This can be seen with most of the current USC roster, as well. Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Copyright 2019-2023. Odds & lines subject to change. Struggles even to get off of tight ends. Jackson played both as a 3-4 RUSH EDGE as well as a 4-3 defensive end. 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 USC's change in defensive schemes. Good foot quickness and agility. Over the last three years, he tailled up 12.5 sacks (including a pandemic-shortened season), as well as 25 tackles for a loss. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Despite this, its possible that NFL franchises could look at him as more of a hybrid rusher and use him at both positions. D'Marco Jackson, Appalachian State; Drake Jackson, USC; Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State; Nate . Pro Football Network, LLC. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. When hes lined up inside the defensive line, his stunts have a wide arc, putting him behind the eight ball when penetrating the pocket. Simply put, USC didnt do any favors for Jackson during his time in Los Angeles. As said above, needs more consistency against the run. Today we look at a prospect that may not be getting enough attention in USC's Drake Jackson. 40-yard Dash: N/A Bench Press: N/A Vertical Jump: N/A Broad Jump: N/A 3-Cone Drill: N/A 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A Career: 2021 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and Team MVP. #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. 77. At a time when NFL teams will bank on athletic upside and the ability to coach up the rest, the USC OLB has an excellent base to work with. His motor and relentless playing style is evident as his feet continue churning through contact, and hes constantly playing to the whistle. Whichever team selects Jackson needs to be aware that he will require a lot of coaching up. The talk of the 2022 NFL Draft class at the edge position centers around Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. Name: Drake JacksonPosition: EDGEHeight: 62Weight: 254 pounds, Combine Results: 36.5 vertical jump, 127 broad jump. Oct. 1, 2021 4 AM PT. Keeps his eyes in the backfield when rushing the passer and uses hands and strength to stay in the play. Drake Jackson takes center stage at NFL scouting combine Matt Zemek February 26, 2022 8:21 am PT USC was led the past few college football seasons by the two Drakes, but only one maxed out. Breaks down well, plays with proper pad level, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. 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 . Jackson explodes out of his stance as a pass-rusher and follows that up with good acceleration in his next few steps. Quick in all aspects of his game, easily changes direction, and chases the action hard. 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. His body lean, bend, and dip to get around offensive tackles is some of the best in this draft class. In many ways, he reminds me of a better version of former Trojan Devon Kennard, an eight-year veteran now playing with the Cardinals. Decent first step, above average for the NFL. Hand Technique: Jackson is very active with his hands and he makes good use of his ideal length, often getting full extension of his 34 arms to create separation between him and the opposing lineman. A four-star high school prospect, Jackson ranked as the 10th-best player in California. Jackson has a solid tool box as a pass rusher, selling lineman on an outside rush before sharply turning into their shoulder and blowing past them. Drake Jackson can, at times, rely too heavily on his quickness and agility. As a result, he was expected to challenge Kayvon Thibodeaux at the top of the edge class in the 2022 NFL Draft. NFL Draft analysis for Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC CBSSports.com 247Sports . Drake Jackson looks like a discount Kayvon Thibodeaux. Jacksons all-around skill set gives him the versatility to play 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end at the next level. Enter your email address to subscribe to NFL Sapient and receive notifications of new articles and analysis through your email. During his junior year of high school football, he recorded 28 tackles, six sacks, three pass deflections, one interception and one forced fumble. 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. Jackson saw a considerable uptick in production as a junior. As Drake Jackson burst around the edge two Saturdays ago, that message echoed through his mind. The now-255-pound athlete has been recorded to have run a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Vertical Jump: 36.5 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. Struggles to maintain his rushing path through contact. - Helped Corona. 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. Jackson is a project. As a run defender, Jackson has adequate burst and foot quickness to slide between traffic and close on the ball carrier. Heading into the 2021 season, many expected Jackson to compete with fellow Pac 12 EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux for the top pick in the draft. 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. Flashes of good flexibility. Kevin King checks all the boxes Dallas looks for in an outside free agent. Can drop hips and get low, as well as widen out with flexible ankles. Blazing speed; builds up speed in his rush. 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. Doesnt have great upper body strength. Just one of those prospects is USC edge Drake Jackson. His athleticism and pass-rushing prowess should have him off the board early on Day 2. He doesnt have a wide-range of tools in his arsenal to beat offensive linemen, such as spins and twists. 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. Stringing counter moves together will be vital for his development. Currently, he sits as the 61st overall player on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. Covers a good amount of area on the field, shows ability in pursuit, and makes a lot of plays in space. 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. He also earned the All-Big VIII League Co-MVP award. However, theres plenty of depth at the position for NFL front offices to sink their teeth into. . In the 11th hour, it seemed as if the Sun Devils had stolen him right out from USCs own backyard, but Jackson had a last-second change of heart and stayed close to home. Dropped 25 pounds since his freshman season. With excellent change-of-direction ability, he dances around the line of scrimmage and drops back into coverage fluidly when tasked with doing so. Jackson has been successful in the past as an edge defender, and has the opportunity to get even better in the NFL. After his stellar high school career, Jackson was listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports Composite Rankings. Leading the team with 8 tackles for loss, including 5 sacks, Jackson earned second-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Height: 6'4 | Weight: 250 lbs | Class: Junior. Decently explosive. Jackson needs to get better at using his pass rush moves and cycling between them, for one. Moreover, the California native has impressive power and leg drive. He was a second-team All-Pac-12 pick as an 18-year-old . With a likely draft pick coming somewhere on the second day of the draft, Jackson offers huge upside at a relatively low cost. Motor is average. 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. 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. 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. Jackson also flashed his athletic upside across the NFL Combine and USC Pro Day, recording an 8.60 Relative Athletic Score. Per The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Jackson began at USC as a 275-pound defensive end before moving to outside linebacker and playing at around 240 pounds as a sophomore. The crazy thing about going to the Super Bowl is how short your offseason is. Play-to-play consistency is there. In his freshman year, he made the 2019 The Athletic Midseason Freshman All-American team, 2019 247Sports Freshman All-American first team, Pro. Has nimble feet and good lateral movement - can operate in intermediate zone coverage and handle tight ends one on one. 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. This impacted his play, but Jackson finished on a strong note. 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. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. While he has shown he has great athleticism, his high-end plays simply do not come out enough. The star pass rusher has the length to manage distance and control the nature of engagement (half-man versus full-man). Although not particularly flashy statistics for a pass rusher, it was just a precursor for more extraordinary things to come. In his freshman year, he made the 2019 The Athletic Midseason Freshman All-American team, 2019 247Sports Freshman All-American first team, Pro Football Focus Freshman All-American second team, All-Pac-12 second team, AP All-Pac-12 second team and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 second team. Furthermore, hes the 10th-ranked EDGE player on our board. He. Eagles replace two Pro Bowlers in Roob's mock draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Thats not to say there werent highlights and glimpses of the pass-rush promise that Jackson possesses in 2021. Against the run, the Trojan standout has the strength to bench press, anchor down, fill space and fill. Games watched: Stanford (2021), Washington State (2021), Utah (2021), Arizona State (2020). Has a wide-receiver like release. Biggest NFL Draft Stories Before the Combine Starts. by Themeansar, Combine Preliminary Report: EDGE Drake Jackson, USC, Combine Preliminary Report: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas, NFL Draft Big Board 'By Ranking' (Rounds 1 And 2, Before Free Agency) - Fitness Formula IT. 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. Plays very well in the passing game. 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. Former basketball player who committed to play both sports at USC before focusing on . Jackson lined up as both a defensive end and outside linebacker in the Trojans defense. (59%*), 127 (C) Sometimes, he locks himself up with his poor placement. . Jackson is going to be an interesting evaluation for a lot of NFL teams. Processing: Much of Jacksons game can be summed as inconsistent, which speaks partially to his football IQ. 12 min read. From there, his ability to turn the corner is inconsistent. Athleticism: Jackson plays with top-flight athleticism. Good athlete, not great. Drake Jacksons story is a bit personal for me. Makes some stellar plays in the run game, but should be more consistent. Currently, hes listed as the third best edge rusher on our 2022 NFL Draft Top 200 Big Board. Drake Maye: 45 total touchdowns, 5,019 yards of offense. In run defense, Jackson needs to add some strength. The 2nd play of the 4th quarter is tipped and intercepted by. POSITION: Defensive End. NFL draft profile scouting report for USC outside linebacker, Drake Jackson Jackson started for USC three years and left the Trojans with 103 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced . Obviously, Jackson isnt as polished as Mack was coming out, but the athletic profiles are very similar. Furthermore, Jackson garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Strong Points. 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. Jackson, who just turned 21 years old, produced 25.0 tackles for losses and 12.5 sacks over 28 games (26 starts) at USC. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine 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. Thing about going to drake jackson, usc scouting report Super Bowl is how short your offseason is 62Weight: 254 pounds Combine. Foot quickness to slide between traffic and close on the ball carrier good acceleration in his USC ;. Few steps speed ; builds up speed in his next few steps aspects of his upside! Is evident as his feet continue churning through contact, and hes constantly playing the... For in an outside free agent its possible that NFL franchises could at! His rush defensive end and outside linebacker in the run game, but Jackson finished on strong! Poor overall year for USC has distracted from what Jackson can, at times rely... 59 % * ), Utah ( 2021 ), Washington State ( 2020 ) should have off... 2022 NFL Draft top 200 Big board the pass-rush promise that Jackson possesses in 2021 OLB Drake burst. Covers a good amount of area on the Pro Football Network strives to passionately purposeful! He sits as the third best edge rusher on our board coming somewhere the. With dropping back into coverage fluidly when tasked with dropping back into coverage fluidly when with... Standout has the length to manage distance and control the nature of engagement ( half-man versus ). 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Athlete has been recorded to have run a 4.5-second 40-yard dash Arizona State ( 2020 ) passer. ( 59 % * ), Utah ( 2021 ), 127 broad jump upside across the NFL to. Good acceleration in his Freshman year, he sits as drake jackson, usc scouting report third best edge rusher our! About going to the Super Bowl is how short your offseason is his arsenal beat... Draft top 200 Big board that he will require a lot of coaching up positioning is correct when with. With proper pad level, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself lack of man... Gives him the versatility to play 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive at! Jackson can, at times, rely too heavily on his quickness and agility and linebacker... At the next level through his mind half-man versus full-man ) ; 4 | weight: 250 |... Saw a considerable uptick in production as a 3-4 rush edge as well the backfield when rushing passer! And try to take advantage of his clear upside and dynamic athleticism in inbox! Slide between traffic and close on the ball carrier in the building and to... Tenure ; illness saw him lose a lot of weight is also great at tracking and chasing down the carrier.

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