People have questions about the Cowboys, and we strive to provide the answers. Best Scheme Fit: 3-4 (can also work in a 4-3). 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. Moreover, the California native has impressive power and leg drive. He owns several pass-rush moves, including a killer spin move and an awe-inspiring ghost move. Further, Jacksons playstyle has not changed to accompany his 20-pound weight drop. USC's Drake London has the potential to be that player this year. Go get paid.". The draft is scheduled to be held in the plaza outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 27-29, 2023. . 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. Raadpleeg ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw gegevens gebruiken. The crazy thing about going to the Super Bowl is how short your offseason is. His hand-to-hand combat needs improvement. The game ends, everybody celebrates or mourns, and next thing you know it's time for the Combine, free agency . USC EDGE Drake Jackson Scouting Report. Drake Jackson is flying under the radar, but that could benefit the Cowboys. Thats one reason why Jackson would be a great fit in Dallas. Jackson backed this up in the explosion drills at the combine - the only drills he participated in - where he finished seventh in the vertical jump and third in the broad jump among EDGEs. With a likely draft pick coming somewhere on the second day of the draft, Jackson offers huge upside at a relatively low cost. Flashes of good flexibility. All Rights Reserved. Has a wide-receiver like . There are games in which he looks like the best player on the field and others in which he is struggling all game to disengage from offensive tackles. 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. Drake Jackson Scouting Report 2022 NFL Draft. The USC OLB was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week following a performance against Washington State where he forced a fumble that the Trojans recovered for a touchdown. While he is capable of playing outside linebacker, a position on the defensive line seems more natural for him. Wij, Yahoo, maken deel uit van de Yahoo-merkenfamilie. Height: 6'4 | Weight: 250 lbs | Class: Junior. Good all-around athlete with very good short-area quickness and fluidity. From there, his ability to turn the corner is inconsistent. He will likely end up as an outside linebacker in an odd front. His performances earned him an honorable mention for the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/drake-jackson-scouting-report-2022-nfl-draft-usc-trojans-football/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Looks like he could put more on his frame. Weight: 254 lbs Please check your email for a confirmation. All participants at the Scout Day While he has shown he has great athleticism, his high-end plays simply do not come out enough. 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. Whats more, Jackson does not recognize his ability to threaten the inside and outside tracks on a play-to-play basis. He was awarded second-team All-Pac 12 honors at years end behind just Keyvon Thibodeaux. This would be well-below the league average for both the defensive end, as well as the outside linebacker position. 5 FUM. Doesnt get a lot of drive out of his lower body. Right now, Jackson is reliant on his speed and agility to avoid or minimize contact. Hes also very inconsistent as a tackler. Manage Settings Drake Jackson should get a green light during the medical process at the NFL Combine, although some front offices might pay special attention to the left foot. 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. 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. Jackson took on a huge role right away, becoming USCs first true freshman to start a season opener in 12 years. Lets dive into those before looking at the areas for improvement on his report. The pass rusher still plays like a 275-pound defensive end. "Go get paid. SCHOOL: USC. Needs more Leverage in his game. Whats more, Jackson has fluid hips and powerful bend to work through half-man engagement. 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. Javon Kinlaw. 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. 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. In 2018, the gifted pass rusher continued his impressive career. 0:12. : #SFvsLV on FOX : Stream on NFL+ bit.ly/3GkBa8r. 10 1/8
Hes played out of multiple stances from multiple alignments during his USC career. As a pass rusher, Jackson has the all-around athletic profile to threaten the outside and inside tracks. With ties to Mike McCarthy, free agent CB Kevin King could be an option for the Cowboys. 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. To stand out during a pandemic while adapting to a new playing weight, position and defensive coordinator is no easy feat. There are some genuine concerns about Jacksons strength at this moment in his career. Drake Jackson 2021 season highlights. Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Hes at his best as a 5-tech without a tight end, as he struggles to work through double teams tremendously. While he was always a solid player at USC, it would have been nice for Jacksons production to see a leap between his true freshman and junior seasons. While he played light due to a transition to OLB from defensive end in 2020, that has been to the detriment of his play strength. Be sure to follow NFL Draft Lounge for more scouting report coverage, as well as more on Drake Jackson. 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. Strength coaches should help get him to a more viable playing weight, and hopefully a more natural physical attack will come with that added strength. Fantastic closing speed timed at 4.5 secs in the forty - with long arms to drag down quarterbacks and running backs. Here is everything you need to know about the Trojans talented pass rusher: An elite athlete for his size, Jackson takes full advantage of that athleticism in his pass rush. 2 TD. Balance is above average but leaves room for improvement. 2022 NFL Draft: Kenneth Walker III Scouting Report. Thats not to say there werent highlights and glimpses of the pass-rush promise that Jackson possesses in 2021. Seems to be a step late consistently. Jackson saw a considerable uptick in production as a junior. He played at 275 pounds early in his USC tenure; illness saw him lose a lot of weight. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia (Scouting Report) 2. Jackson needs to get better at using his pass rush moves and cycling between them, for one. 2022 NFL Draft Guide Scouting profiles, advanced statistics, and grades for the 2022 draft class. 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. 61 overall pick. Perhaps the writing's been on the wall since his breakout season as a true freshman. 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. In 2019, Drake Jackson missed two games after suffering an injury to his left foot that left him in a walking boot. He can sometimes be quelled by bigger offensive tackles and didnt show much of a bull rush. In his freshman year, he made the 2019 The Athletic Midseason Freshman All-American team, 2019 247Sports Freshman All-American first team, Pro. CAREER BACKGROUND. 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. His speed to get into the backfield and chase down the opposing quarterback is one of the best elements of his game. 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. There were some flashes but for the most part, I didnt see much variability. Five USC players have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine: Drake London, Drake Jackson, Keaontay Ingram, Chris Steele, and Isaac Taylor-Stuart. Drake London USC #15 Junior Moorpark, CA 6'5" 210. He took a step back during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season but returned to form in 2021. Simply put, USC didnt do any favors for Jackson during his time in Los Angeles. Although he projects as a true 3-4 OLB at the NFL level, Jackson has some versatility to his scouting report. As a run defender, Jackson has adequate burst and foot quickness to slide between traffic and close on the ball carrier. 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