Hes very intentional with his foot placement and has exceptional bend to get around tackles, which he pairs nicely with his top-end burst. Jackson was an immediate contributor at USC. Ben Liebenberg/AP Photos. Drake Jackson is flying under the radar, but that could benefit the Cowboys. - Drake Jackson is a 6-3, 269-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Corona, CA. Has great bend/flexibility; able to get down low and move around blockers while maintaining momentum. The poor overall year for USC has distracted from what Jackson can be at the next level. 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. Even when he plays at a heavier weight, Jackson has that versatility, and he showed up to USC's Pro Day at 273 pounds and had a good workout. Decently explosive. While he is capable of playing outside linebacker, a position on the defensive line seems more natural for him. Similar athletes although I think Jackson is a hair shorter, a bit thicker, and just a bit less athletic overall. Wij, Yahoo, maken deel uit van de Yahoo-merkenfamilie. He took a step back during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season but returned to form in 2021. 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. This impacted his play, but Jackson finished on a strong note. He can get low and he flashed good flexibility, but his poor lower-body strength often allowed him to be knocked off his path. Doesnt have great upper body strength. Looks like he could put more on his frame. 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. As signing day approached, Jackson was reportedly choosing between USC and my own alma mater, Arizona State. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. Furthermore, Jackson garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. He's a player who once received top-10 hype; however, his stock declined mightily over the season while others rose. 10 1/8 Pro Football Network, LLC. Games watched: Stanford (2021), Washington State (2021), Utah (2021), Arizona State (2020). As a result, he was expected to challenge Kayvon Thibodeaux at the top of the edge class in the 2022 NFL Draft. Gives effort between the tackles to find the ball and is willing to take on linemen. Jackson is going to be an interesting evaluation for a lot of NFL teams. Doesnt get a lot of drive out of his lower body. Fires off the snap, can bend off the edge, and quickly closes to plays. Struggles to work through traffic and hold the perimeter. In 2018, the gifted pass rusher continued his impressive career. His hand usage improved in 2021 but needs to be developed more. Former basketball player who committed to play both sports at USC before focusing on . Tormented by the decision, he recorded two versions of his commitment video. Moments of above-average upper-body strength. There is a lot to like about Jacksons overall game but he is a very unrefined prospect at this point in his evaluation. NFL Team News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumors, Position: EDGE 61 overall pick. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. Flashes of good flexibility. He was awarded second-team All-Pac 12 honors at years end behind just Keyvon Thibodeaux. Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Whats more, Jackson has fluid hips and powerful bend to work through half-man engagement. 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. Statistically, this ended up being his best year, but the context matters. Jan 1. The pass rusher still plays like a 275-pound defensive end. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. When Jackson has to change directions or move along the line of scrimmage, he just does it so smoothly. As a pass rusher, Jackson has the all-around athletic profile to threaten the outside and inside tracks. Hes also been impactful in all three phases of defense pass rush, run, and coverage. It was a crushingly narrow recruiting loss for Arizona State. In run defense, Jackson needs to add some strength. GRADE: 7.7 (Potential Impact Player - 2nd Round). That wouldve been third among EDGEs at the combine this year. By consistently lowering his pad level, the USC defender reduces blockable surface area and substantially improves his functional power. 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. His hand-to-hand combat needs improvement. His hand usage is aggressive, which allows him to drive back offensive linemen or win on a regular-basis on the outside. I was impressed with how he played in the passing game. Manage Settings Jackson ended his sophomore year with second-team All-Pac-12 recognition for the second consecutive season. Duke, the lone ACC program to sign a top-10 . 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. 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. 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. A native of Corona, California, Drake Jackson attended Centennial High School. Drake Jackson Scouting Report 2022 NFL Draft. His body lean, bend, and dip to get around offensive tackles is some of the best in this draft class. Jackson is also an unreliable tackler. Further, Jacksons playstyle has not changed to accompany his 20-pound weight drop. Once he does, hell be a much more natural fit in the trenches, as opposed to being the sort of tweener he is now. Drake Jackson is a three-year contributor for the University of Southern California Trojans. In many ways, he reminds me of a better version of former Trojan Devon Kennard, an eight-year veteran now playing with the Cardinals. The draft is scheduled to be held in the plaza outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 27-29, 2023. He was a second-team All-Pac-12 pick as an 18-year-old . During his 11 games as a starter in 2019, Jackson led the team in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (5.5). If Jackson can capitalize on his potential and reach his considerably high ceiling, he could become a dominant edge rusher and arguably end up the best at his position in this class. https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/drake-jackson-scouting-report-2022-nfl-draft-usc-trojans-football/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jacksons all-around skill set gives him the versatility to play 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end at the next level. Hes adept at understanding both man and zone coverage he ensures his positioning is correct when tasked with dropping back into coverage. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. Perhaps the writing's been on the wall since his breakout season as a true freshman. 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. Quick in all aspects of his game, easily changes direction, and chases the action hard. 2 TD. While he skipped the agility drills at the combine, Jackson did each of them at his pro day; his 4.28 short shuttle and 7.09 3-cone drill each wouldve placed in the 83rd percentile or higher at the combine. Toronto, ON. Drake Jackson NFL Draft 2022: Scouting Report for San Francisco 49ers' EDGE BR NFL Scouting Department April 29, 2022 Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images HEIGHT: 6'2 5/8". Has a decent speed rush that he uses well when he can get under the block. 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. Leading the team with 8 tackles for loss, including 5 sacks, Jackson earned second-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Both Maye and Williams are very good prospects, just look at what they did last year. There were some flashes but for the most part, I didnt see much variability. 17 min read. With excellent change-of-direction ability, he dances around the line of scrimmage and drops back into coverage fluidly when tasked with doing so. Very good first step and acceleration. As always, you can find us on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram. Another documented factor in Jackson choosing USC over ASU was the opportunity to contribute immediately. Jackson was an immediate contributor at USC. Drake Jackson was not one of them. Drake Jackson Scouting Report Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Great length. Jackson is an explosive player off the line of scrimmage that is able to beat his opponents out of their stance quite regularly. Despite this, its possible that NFL franchises could look at him as more of a hybrid rusher and use him at both positions. Drake Jackson 40 Time The San Francisco 49ers went linebacker with their first pick this year, selecting Drake Jackson with the 61st pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.He played three seasons with the USC Trojans and played plenty of snaps at both defensive end and outside linebacker. Thats one reason why Jackson would be a great fit in Dallas. While there is plenty of athletic upside and things to love with Jackson ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, there are some clear concerns that are impacting his stock. Just one of those prospects is USC edge Drake Jackson. Jackson needs to get better at using his pass rush moves and cycling between them, for one. Please check your email for a confirmation. Whereas this fails to materialize for some recruits . Unfortunately for the USC OLB, the 2021 college football season didnt live up to expectations for him or the Trojans. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Be sure to follow NFL Draft Lounge for more scouting report coverage, as well as more on Drake Jackson. When tasked with being the primary edge-setter, Jackson just doesnt have the strength and technical refinement to get the job done. Let's start with the latter. As a result, the Trojan standout gives up his chest and is blown up or controlled by offensive linemen. Was occasionally used as a coverage defender, both man and zone. As noted earlier, Jackson should take advantage of his pass rush arsenal more often, as his athleticism gives him clear upside on finesse moves. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Drake Jackson. D'Marco Jackson, Appalachian State; Drake Jackson, USC; Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State; Nate . 61 overall) in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Has nimble feet and good lateral movement - can operate in intermediate zone coverage and handle tight ends one on one. To finish off the athletic upside element of his scouting report, Jackson displays explosiveness in his first step. This January scouting profile ends with a typically solid Round 2 grade. Cowboys draft 2023: Edge rusher Nolan Smith prospect profile. 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. NFL draft profile scouting report for USC outside linebacker, Drake Jackson The crazy thing about going to the Super Bowl is how short your offseason is. . Flashes closing speed and agility to reach passers from the blind side or up the middle before they can escape. His motor and relentless playing style is evident as his feet continue churning through contact, and hes constantly playing to the whistle. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine An relentless edge defender with impressive physical traits, USC's Drake Jackson enters the 2022 NFL draft as one of the more intriguing edge defenders in a deep class. In his debut against Fresno State, the new USC DE impressed with 1.5 tackles for loss and 2 pass deflections. Jackson saw a considerable uptick in production as a junior. 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. All participants at the Scout Day Drake Jackson Scouting Report. In six starts as a sophomore, he tallied 20 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 interception. He flashes a strong initial punch, but whenever that fails him, he is regularly pushed off his spot. Balance is above average but leaves room for improvement. Good athlete, not great. 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. 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. Currently, he sits as the 61st overall player on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. SCHOOL: USC. Jacksons lateral agility and athleticism offer promise to develop in this area, though. Shoots like a rocket off the line of scrimmage, giving offensive tackles little time to react. 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. This would be well-below the league average for both the defensive end, as well as the outside linebacker position. While the former four-star recruit has the traits to stack, window and replace, he rarely does so. He. Here is everything you. Possessing exceptional size and length even at a young age, Jackson tallied 29 tackles and 2 pass deflections in his sophomore season. 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. Nick Bosa. Run Defense: This is easily Jacksons biggest weakness. His size can be an issue in the run game, where bigger tackles are able to entirely remove him from the game pretty consistently. As always, you can find us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram. Games Watched: UCLA (2020), Arizona State (2020), Stanford (2021), Colorado (2021), Arizona (2021), Washington State (2021) POSITIVES. Jackson enhances his well-rounded skill set with long arms and an advanced understanding of leverage. A daily roundup of all your Dallas Cowboys news from Blogging The Boys, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Blogging The Boys, a Dallas Cowboys fan community, 2022 Cowboys scouting report: USC EDGE Drake Jackson, Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft: Cowboys take an offensive player at the wrong position. As Drake Jackson burst around the edge two Saturdays ago, that message echoed through his mind. Drake London USC #15 Junior Moorpark, CA 6'5" 210. Although he projects as a true 3-4 OLB at the NFL level, Jackson has some versatility to his scouting report. Buy Chargers Tickets. On film, Jackson has tremendous quickness off the line of scrimmage to beat offensive linemen out of their stances. Does a fine job of getting downfield to make tackles. - Helped Corona. Be sure to followNFLDraft Lounge for more scouting report coverage, as well as more on Drake Jackson. As said above, needs more consistency against the run. Very good playing strength and has worked hard in the weight room, adding bulk and filling out his frame. His performances earned him an honorable mention for the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. His projected 40 time would also be solid for the linebacker position, but well-above the league average for defensive ends. 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. Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) February. . 2022 NFL Draft Guide Scouting profiles, advanced statistics, and grades for the 2022 draft class. As a run defender, the USC OLB repeatedly demonstrates impressive pursuit speed, whether close to the line of scrimmage or in space. He posted excellent vertical (36.5) and broad (107) jumps. Long speed is a concern. Sometimes, he locks himself up with his poor placement. Arm length: 34 Hand size: 10 1/8 Athletic testing 40-yard dash: N/A Vertical jump: 36.5 Broad jump: 127.0 Jackson further upped his performance in 2021 logging 6 sacks and 17 QB hurries while playing on 414 snaps Scouting Report: Strengths Fantastic closing speed timed at 4.5 secs in the forty - with long arms to drag down quarterbacks and running backs. Gambling problem? Brian Lamb is the owner of NFL Draft Lounge and has covered the NFL Draft since 2011. 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. Dangerous when given space as a pass-rusher. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. While he has shown he has great athleticism, his high-end plays simply do not come out enough. Go get paid.". Not a great contain defender. Drake Jackson (99) OLB - CAREER: In his career, he has 103 tackles, including 25 for losses (with 12.5 sacks), 4 deflections, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery. 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 explodes out of his stance as a pass-rusher and follows that up with good acceleration in his next few steps. 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. For more on Pickens, check out our scouting report on him. The former top-150 recruit started 44 consecutive games to end his career and was an All-SEC selection in both 2019 and 2020. School: USC, NFL Combine Data: Jackson has significantly bulked since we saw him on the field, and he projects as a threatening outside speed rusher at the NFL level. It is also important to remember he is still just 21 years old. Has enough athleticism to drop in coverage and penetrate the pocket. The Cowboys EVP spoke on Tuesday out in Indianapolis. That also makes it difficult to gauge how deep his pass rush repertoire is and how comfortable he is with each move. Sign up for the Before National Signing Day, Jackson narrowed down his options to USC and Arizona State. He was 245 or so pounds. He has great length for a 63 EDGE and he pairs that with a ton of burst and speed off of the snap. @The99Athlete. As long as he develops more there, hell be just fine in the NFL. He often initiates contact with active, refined and accurate hands; further, he exhibits a varied pass-rush arsenal. To stand out during a pandemic while adapting to a new playing weight, position and defensive coordinator is no easy feat. Decent first step, above average for the NFL. When hes lined up inside the defensive line, his stunts have a wide arc, putting him behind the eight ball when penetrating the pocket. 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. Embed from Getty Images NAME: Drake Jackson. Breaks down well, plays with proper pad level, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Tends to be much too aggressive with angles. He can sometimes be quelled by bigger offensive tackles and didnt show much of a bull rush. Obviously, Jackson isnt as polished as Mack was coming out, but the athletic profiles are very similar. Jackson, who just turned 21 years old, produced 25.0 tackles for losses and 12.5 sacks over 28 games (26 starts) at USC. Going into his sophomore season with a new defensive coordinator and at a new position, Jackson dropped 20 pounds from his previously-listed 275. 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. 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. Has a wide-receiver like release. NFL Draft analysis for Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC CBSSports.com 247Sports . Jackson is also an impressive lateral athlete. Heading into the 2021 college football season, Jackson was considered by many to be one of the top prospects in this class. 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