Despite the challenges presented by the 2020 college football season, Jackson was still one of the premier pass rushers in the sport. As a pass rusher, Jackson has the all-around athletic profile to threaten the outside and inside tracks. That should entice teams. Height: 6'4" Weight: 255. In some respects, several of those elements that made him such a highly valued prospect back in the summer still hold firm. For me, watching what Jackson did next for the Trojans, it hurt even more. The NFL invited 324 draft prospects to its scouting combine in 2022. His long arms allow him to clog passing lanes when tasked with coverage responsibilities. Drake Jackson has a lot of upside just for his athletic ability. Jackson could stand to widen his base a bit and find more ways to play through blocks rather than around them. Every year banners go up around downtown Indianapolis with pictures of the draft class's biggest prospects ahead of the scouting . Wij, Yahoo, maken deel uit van de Yahoo-merkenfamilie. 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. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Drake Jackson. Jackson was an immediate contributor at USC. 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. 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. 0:12. Although USC OLB Drake Jackson has seen his NFL Draft stock slide, his scouting report showcases some exceptional athletic upside. Pass Rush Moves: The best way to describe Jacksons pass rush moves is inconsistent. He was a second-team All-Pac-12 pick as an 18-year-old . Jackson played both as a 3-4 RUSH EDGE as well as a 4-3 defensive end. Flashes closing speed and agility to reach passers from the blind side or up the middle before they can escape. Heading into the 2021 season, many expected Jackson to compete with fellow Pac 12 EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux for the top pick in the draft. Jackson played at 275 pounds as a true DE for USC in 2019. Lacks the willingness to really be a great run defender. I think he thinks hes more athletic than he is. In 2021, Addison was the nation's best receiver, with 100 balls for nearly 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns. - Helped Corona. USC Trojans, EDGE, # 99 Drake Jackson Measurements. Does a fine job of getting downfield to make tackles. He has excellent height and solid weight for the linebacker position, but would be considered underweight as a defensive end. 61 overall pick. Jackson saw a considerable uptick in production as a junior. As a result, the Trojan standout gives up his chest and is blown up or controlled by offensive linemen. Games watched: Stanford (2021), Washington State (2021), Utah (2021), Arizona State (2020). He posted excellent vertical (36.5) and broad (107) jumps. His body lean, bend, and dip to get around offensive tackles is some of the best in this draft class. Moments of above-average upper-body strength. Arm length: 34 Hand size: 10 1/8 Athletic testing 40-yard dash: N/A Vertical jump: 36.5 Broad jump: 127.0 Jackson took on a huge role right away, becoming USCs first true freshman to start a season opener in 12 years. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. A four-star high school prospect, Jackson ranked as the 10th-best player in California. Not much in the arsenal besides a basic rip-and-dip and a stab. As a run defender, Jackson has adequate burst and foot quickness to slide between traffic and close on the ball carrier. His size can be an issue in the run game, where bigger tackles are able to entirely remove him from the game pretty consistently. If he develops a good speed-to-power move, its game over for opposing offensive tackles. Furthermore, the presence of Dan Quinn would allow Jackson to be directly mentored by one of the best. The talk of the 2022 NFL Draft class at the edge position centers around Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. - Drake Jackson is a 6-3, 269-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Corona, CA. Doesnt use his hands much to beat blockers. 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. Doesnt have a plan when he goes into a rep. Placement is not great. USC DE Drake Jackson joins. As long as he develops more there, hell be just fine in the NFL. . 2022 NFL Draft: Kenneth Walker III Scouting Report. 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. His drawbacks primarily revolve around his technique. We at NFL Draft Diamonds wanted to highlight our Official Big Board for [] Before National Signing Day, Jackson narrowed down his options to USC and Arizona State. Name: Drake JacksonPosition: EDGEHeight: 62Weight: 254 pounds, Combine Results: 36.5 vertical jump, 127 broad jump. Will start to give up on a play if the ball doesnt end up near him initially. 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. With a likely draft pick coming somewhere on the second day of the draft, Jackson offers huge upside at a relatively low cost. As always, you can find us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram. There is a lot to like about Jacksons overall game but he is a very unrefined prospect at this point in his evaluation. Another documented factor in Jackson choosing USC over ASU was the opportunity to contribute immediately. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'AaRmpLCHSPZ9gMA-UDXWUg',sig:'m3LfwlbybvcslptHYiOyl4D16pSAYJi5z5RKaKFGrgM=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1237591613',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); 23-year-old Ryerson University Sport Media Graduate. 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.. 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. Going into his sophomore season with a new defensive coordinator and at a new position, Jackson dropped 20 pounds from his previously-listed 275. Currently, he sits as the 61st overall player on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. Struggles even to get off of tight ends. 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. Born on April 12th in Corona, California, Drake Jackson was a standout athlete at Centennial High School. Has a wide-receiver like release. 5 FUM. In his freshman year, he made the 2019 The Athletic Midseason Freshman All-American team, 2019 247Sports Freshman All-American first team, Pro. . The talented pass rusher boasts special lateral agility and change of direction ability. Manage Settings POSITION: Defensive End. He took a step back during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season but returned to form in 2021. Jackson has a great athletic profile and some really positive traits to build on. His hand usage is aggressive, which allows him to drive back offensive linemen or win on a regular-basis on the outside. 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. However, as Jacksons scouting report indicates, the former DE-turned-OLB has the athletic upside and pass-rush weapons to be an impactful player in the NFL. Van Ness is in the same conversation, but could be the best of the bunch. Jacksons all-around skill set gives him the versatility to play 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end at the next level. Jackson is also an unreliable tackler. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine primer: Biggest storylines . 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. Furthermore, Jackson garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors. By Tony Pauline April 24, 2022 Jump around this article Click to show 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. Burst: Jackson has incredible burst, and his explosive first step has probably been more responsible for his pass rush wins than any other trait. Pro Football Network, LLC. Hell need to add some muscle to keep from getting misdirected and tossed on the line. Furthermore, hes shown he can win as a pass rusher by shifting his pass-rush attack from the outside track to the interior in the blink of an eye. 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 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. Strong Points. While he has shown he has great athleticism, his high-end plays simply do not come out enough. Good athlete, not great. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. In the regular-season finale against UCLA, Jackson received Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week merits after generating 5 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. 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. As always, you can find us on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram. Oops. Go get paid.". ith their first selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 49ers took USC defensive end Drake Jackson with the No. Whichever team selects Jackson needs to be aware that he will require a lot of coaching up. Drake Jackson 2022 NFL Draft Profile Jackson lined up as both a defensive end and outside linebacker in the Trojan's defense. Jackson is also an impressive lateral athlete. Analysis: Jackson is an instinctive, disciplined defensive front-seven prospect with a variety of skills. 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. His weaknesses are primarily a product of his weight, new role and new defensive coordinator. However, hes still a fairly raw prospect who needs some refinement to make him an effective pass rusher. Keeps his eyes in the backfield when rushing the passer and uses hands and strength to stay in the play. Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. This January scouting profile joins others in emphasizing his distinct lack of grown man strength, and how much he has []. Has enough athleticism to drop in coverage and penetrate the pocket. Athleticism: Jackson plays with top-flight athleticism. Nov 14, 2022 Nikko Buenavidez. Below-average lower-body strength and balance. Not smooth dropping off the line into space. USC 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports include Chris Steele and Drake London The USC scouting reports include some high-profile players who could sneak into Round 1 of the NFL Draft, plus some later-round prospects. Do Not register if you are not a part of the A's program. Long, clunky strider as a pass-rusher. (%*), Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 61 (SF), (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance), SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. 17 min read. Do you agree they are better prospects than CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, Hendon Hooker and Anthony Richardson? - Helped Corona. He will likely end up as an outside linebacker in an odd front. Whereas this fails to materialize for some recruits . #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. As a result, he was expected to challenge Kayvon Thibodeaux at the top of the edge class in the 2022 NFL Draft. The question is, can he realize that potential? Moreover, the California native has impressive power and leg drive. I was impressed with how he played in the passing game. With Dante Fowler, Chauncey Golston, and Dorance Armstrong already in town, Jackson wont need to play right away. Teams should be eager to get him in the building and try to take advantage of his clear upside and dynamic athleticism. 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. As Drake Jackson burst around the edge two Saturdays ago, that message echoed through his mind. 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. Jackson, 20, had five sacks, a forced fumble and interception in 10 games with the Trojans last season as a junior. Drake Maye: 45 total touchdowns, 5,019 yards of offense. 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. Now, with the depth in this edge-rushing class, Jackson finds himself in a very interesting spot. 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. Embed from Getty Images NAME: Drake Jackson. 77. - Named The Press-Enterprise's Defensive Player of the Year and 2018 All-Big VIII League Co-MVP. The star center earned an invite to the Senior Bowl and received positive reviews playing against draft competition and fighting through a groin injury. In 2018, the gifted pass rusher continued his impressive career. He flashes a strong initial punch, but whenever that fails him, he is regularly pushed off his spot. Additionally, he could improve his handwork to be more of a threat in the ground game. Drake Jackson (USC): 10'7" Jermaine Johnson . Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Decently explosive. April 11, 2022, 2:15 PM 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. Has great bend/flexibility; able to get down low and move around blockers while maintaining momentum. Covers a good amount of area on the field, shows ability in pursuit, and makes a lot of plays in space. Those are already impressive numbers, let alone for a true freshman. His ability as a speed rusher is always apparent as he is able to turn straight ahead runs with good bend and ankle flexibility into immediate opportunities to get to the quarterback. With Jackson, though, its very easy to see his overwhelming talent shining through. Shoots like a rocket off the line of scrimmage, giving offensive tackles little time to react. When Jackson has to change directions or move along the line of scrimmage, he just does it so smoothly. Specifically, he sometimes plays high and shoots his hands late. Jackson lacks any real counters but he will occasionally use his athleticism to dip and dart his way through the interior of the offensive line. Below-average play strength against the run. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 82.70 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: . . Athletic, versatile, with some impressive pass-rush moves, Tony Paulines scouting report for Drake Jackson, the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. Keep track of some of the best and most notable performances from the four days of on-field workouts in Indianapolis. Doesnt look like he knows how to use his hands very well. 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. Breaks down well, plays with proper pad level, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Leading the team with 8 tackles for loss, including 5 sacks, Jackson earned second-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Brian Lamb is the owner of NFL Draft Lounge and has covered the NFL Draft since 2011. Today, I take a look at USC wide receiver Drake London. 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