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Drake Jackson NFL Draft Profile
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Drake Jackson Scouting ReportTwo words immediately spring to mind to describe Jackson’s abilities on the football field — athletic and versatile. Let’s start with the latter. During his two-year tenure at USC, he lined up at both DE and OLB. Jackson proved equally adept at playing with his hand in the dirt or standing up. Although he will play OLB again this season, there’s no reason to believe that he couldn’t play either position in the NFL. That versatility is a valuable commodity at the next level, especially as more teams look to disguise their defensive formations. Next up, athleticism. Jackson moves exceptionally well, with phenomenal change-of-direction ability. His lateral agility is impressive, allowing him to dance around the line of scrimmage. He also owns fantastic play speed. He’s reportedly been timed at 4.5 seconds for the 40-yard dash, which is evident on tape. Jackson can chase down quarterbacks and ball carriers with ease. His athletic prowess means Jackson is a pass-rush threat both off the edge and on the interior. He possesses a decent arsenal of pass-rush moves, making use of his long arms to control offensive linemen (while also having a killer spin move at his disposal).
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Areas for ImprovementOne of the main areas for improvement for Jackson is with his tackling. There are far too many examples on tape of him whiffing on a tackle. This can be because he fails to wrap up or even miscalculates the tackle altogether. If Jackson is to become completely dominant, this is the area where he needs to improve the most. Jackson is blessed with incredible athleticism and he needs to learn to use this to his advantage more consistently. He can win with his agility but often relies on overpowering his man, which isn’t always successful given his lighter frame.
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Drake Jackson Career at Southern CaliforniaAnother documented factor in Jackson choosing USC over ASU was the opportunity to contribute immediately. Whereas this fails to materialize for some recruits, he became the first true freshman to start a season opener for the Trojans since 2007. In his debut against Fresno State, the new USC DE impressed with 1.5 tackles for loss and 2 pass deflections. Two games later, against BYU, Jackson tallied his first full sack as a Trojan. He also registered the first (and currently only) forced fumble of his career. Proving to be defensively dominant, Jackson followed that performance with a career-high 8 tackles against Utah, where he also forced a safety. During his 11 games as a starter in 2019, Jackson led the team in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (5.5). Those are already impressive numbers, let alone for a true freshman. His performances earned him an honorable mention for the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Furthermore, Jackson garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Despite the challenges presented by the 2020 college football season, Jackson was still one of the premier pass rushers in the sport. Jackson ended his sophomore year with second-team All-Pac-12 recognition for the second consecutive season. After adjusting to the outside linebacker position, the expectation is that Jackson will further improve with an entire offseason of preparation. Jackson can follow in former USC DE Williams’ shoes as a first-round selection in the NFL Draft if he does. |
Drake Jackson NFL Draft Player ProfileDrake Jackson’s 2020 campaign established him as one of the top players in the nation. The talented pass rusher boasts special lateral agility and change of direction ability. The Trojan star is difficult to touch when he employs head fakes, jab steps and body language to force an offensive lineman into false steps. What’s more, Jackson has fluid hips and powerful bend to work through half-man engagement. Moreover, the California native has impressive power and leg drive. Jackson enhances his well-rounded skill set with long arms and an advanced understanding of leverage. He often initiates contact with active, refined and accurate hands; further, he exhibits a varied pass-rush arsenal. The star pass rusher has the length to manage distance and control the nature of engagement (half-man versus full-man). By consistently lowering his pad level, the USC defender reduces blockable surface area and substantially improves his functional power. As a pass rusher, Jackson has the all-around athletic profile to threaten the outside and inside tracks. Against the run, the Trojan standout has the strength to bench press, anchor down, fill space and fill. Jackson even has sufficient spatial awareness to operate in zone coverage; conversely, he has the requisite movement skills to handle man responsibilities underneath. Jackson’s all-around skill set gives him the versatility to play 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end at the next level. |
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