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. This event is exclusive to the A's program. Similar athletes although I think Jackson is a hair shorter, a bit thicker, and just a bit less athletic overall. Currently, hes listed as the third best edge rusher on our 2022 NFL Draft Top 200 Big Board. Brian Lamb is the owner of NFL Draft Lounge and has covered the NFL Draft since 2011. There is a lot to like about Jacksons overall game but he is a very unrefined prospect at this point in his evaluation. A native of Corona, California, Drake Jackson attended Centennial High School. [] the ground running. - Drake Jackson is a 6-3, 269-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Corona, CA. This January scouting profile ends with a typically solid Round 2 grade. 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. Furthermore, Jackson garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Doesnt have great upper body strength. Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. With Dante Fowler, Chauncey Golston, and Dorance Armstrong already in town, Jackson wont need to play right away. While he has shown he has great athleticism, his high-end plays simply do not come out enough. 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. Sign up for the Drake Jackson 40 Time To stand out during a pandemic while adapting to a new playing weight, position and defensive coordinator is no easy feat. - Named The Press-Enterprise's Defensive Player of the Year and 2018 All-Big VIII League Co-MVP. Despite the narrative that he recorded a down year, the star defender performed very well as a sophomore under unique and challenging circumstances. The crazy thing about going to the Super Bowl is how short your offseason is. "Go get paid. D'Marco Jackson (Appalachian State): 4.55; . Drake Jackson 2021 season highlights. AboutPressCopyrightContact. He does well to chase players in space from the back side, though. Athletic, versatile, with some impressive pass-rush moves, Tony Paulines scouting report for Drake Jackson, the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. I think he thinks hes more athletic than he is. Jackson played at 275 pounds as a true DE for USC in 2019. Decently explosive. Dallas Cowboys mailbag: Early draft questions for 2023. His long arms allow him to clog passing lanes when tasked with coverage responsibilities. Doesnt look like he knows how to use his hands very well. Play-to-play consistency is there. In six starts as a sophomore, he tallied 20 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 interception. Obviously, Jackson isnt as polished as Mack was coming out, but the athletic profiles are very similar. 61 overall pick. Great length. The talented pass rusher boasts special lateral agility and change of direction ability. 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. His motor and relentless playing style is evident as his feet continue churning through contact, and hes constantly playing to the whistle. When hes lined up inside the defensive line, his stunts have a wide arc, putting him behind the eight ball when penetrating the pocket. 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. Be sure to follow NFL Draft Lounge for more scouting report coverage, as well as more on Drake Jackson. Currently, he sits as the 61st overall player on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. He can get low and he flashed good flexibility, but his poor lower-body strength often allowed him to be knocked off his path. 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. Although he boasts a flexible frame, Jackson lacks consistent bend up the high side. His hand usage improved in 2021 but needs to be developed more. Further, Jacksons playstyle has not changed to accompany his 20-pound weight drop. Copyright 2019-2023. 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". 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. Ahead of his sophomore campaign, he lost 20 pounds due to illness. Moments of above-average upper-body strength. Do you agree they are better prospects than CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, Hendon Hooker and Anthony Richardson? A player whose weaknesses are primarily a product of a new playing weight, a new role and a new defensive coordinator in 2020, Drake Jackson is an immediate starter with elite upside at defensive end and outside linebacker. Jordan Addison (USC) It's hard to doubt Jordan Addison after looking at his production. To finish off the athletic upside element of his scouting report, Jackson displays explosiveness in his first step. Heading into the 2021 college football season, Jackson was considered by many to be one of the top prospects in this class. : #SFvsLV on FOX : Stream on NFL+ bit.ly/3GkBa8r. (59%*), 127 (C) . He has a good ability to drive through offensive lineman and plug running lanes between the tackles. Jackson even has sufficient spatial awareness to operate in zone coverage; conversely, he has the requisite movement skills to handle man responsibilities underneath. Drake Jackson Scouting Report By Charlie Campbell Strengths: Quality skill set Enough size, speed, athleticism, strength to function Quick off the edge Burst off ball Dangerous darting to the inside Quality rip move Versatile to play end or outside linebacker Can drop into coverage Fits a 4-3 or 3-4 defense Can dip underneath tackles Athletic His moves take full advantage of his unique athleticism, even if it leaves one wishing he would use these moves more consistently. Jackson should be a stand-up outside linebacker in the NFL, at least until he adds some more lower-body strength to hold up as a legit defensive end. Drake Jackson To 49ers - Scout's Take And Inside Scouting ReportCHECK OUT THE HABERMAN & MIDDLEKAUFF PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS https://podcasts.apple.com/us/. His hand-to-hand combat needs improvement. In 2021, Addison was the nation's best receiver, with 100 balls for nearly 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns. 1. 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. ith their first selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 49ers took USC defensive end Drake Jackson with the No. Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Just one of those prospects is USC edge Drake Jackson. Furthermore, the presence of Dan Quinn would allow Jackson to be directly mentored by one of the best. Odds & lines subject to change. Copyright 2020 Newsup. Hes very intentional with his foot placement and has exceptional bend to get around tackles, which he pairs nicely with his top-end burst. 77. Height: 64 | Weight: 250 lbs | Class: Junior, Games Watched: UCLA (2020), Arizona State (2020), Stanford (2021), Colorado (2021), Arizona (2021), Washington State (2021). Jackson also demonstrates impressive football intelligence. However, hes still a fairly raw prospect who needs some refinement to make him an effective pass rusher. Height: 63 We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. His weaknesses are primarily a product of his weight, new role and new defensive coordinator. Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Jackson has significantly bulked since we saw him on the field, and he projects as a threatening outside speed rusher at the NFL level. Once considered a contender to be the first pass rusher off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft, USCs Drake Jackson has seen a slight downturn in his stock during the last year. @The99Athlete. For more on Pickens, check out our scouting report on him. 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. Arm length: 34 Hand size: 10 1/8 Athletic testing 40-yard dash: N/A Vertical jump: 36.5 Broad jump: 127.0 Manage Settings In 2018, the gifted pass rusher continued his impressive career. As always, you can find us on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram. NFL draft profile scouting report for USC outside linebacker, Drake Jackson. His projected 40 time would also be solid for the linebacker position, but well-above the league average for defensive ends. Im predicting that Drake Jackson will run a 4.62 40 time in the 2022 NFL Combine. All Rights Reserved. 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 took on a huge role right away, becoming USCs first true freshman to start a season opener in 12 years. He was awarded second-team All-Pac 12 honors at years end behind just Keyvon Thibodeaux. We at NFL Draft Diamonds wanted to highlight our Official Big Board for [] Has good experience as a four-year starter. Quick in all aspects of his game, easily changes direction, and chases the action hard. Although his junior season may not have lived up to expectation, there is still significant NFL Draft interest in the USC OLB, with a reportedly high number of team visits during the pre-draft process. The former top-150 recruit started 44 consecutive games to end his career and was an All-SEC selection in both 2019 and 2020. Not smooth dropping off the line into space. His drawbacks primarily revolve around his technique. The pass rusher still plays like a 275-pound defensive end. 49ers select USC DE Drake Jackson with 1st pick in 2022 NFL draft Report: Jets trade offer for 49ers WR Deebo Samuel not impressive Play our FREE NFL Draft Day 2 Challenge Terrell Owens no. Negatives: Lacks bulk and gets controlled at the point or easily knocked from his angle of attack by a single blocker. Oops. While straight-line speed doesnt always translate to play speed, Jackson has showcased excellent play speed throughout his USC career. 61 overall) in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. When talking about edge players in this year's upcoming draft, Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeuax is the first name that comes to mind. As a run defender, the USC OLB repeatedly demonstrates impressive pursuit speed, whether close to the line of scrimmage or in space. The talk of the 2022 NFL Draft class at the edge position centers around Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. Intangibles: Jackson doesnt always play with the same tenacity every play, although its hard to know how much of that is due to his below-average strength. Drake Jackson Scouting Report Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Go get paid.". Struggles to gather himself when flying around the edge. For that reason, Drake Jacksons 2020 campaign established him as one of the top players in the nation. He flashes a strong initial punch, but whenever that fails him, he is regularly pushed off his spot. As a three-year starter for the Trojans, Jackson was deployed almost exclusively on the edge, both as a stand-up player and with his hand in the ground. Not a great contain defender. Feb 28, 2023 at 01:36 PM. . Covers a good amount of area on the field, shows ability in pursuit, and makes a lot of plays in space. Enter your email address to subscribe to NFL Sapient and receive notifications of new articles and analysis through your email. (%*), Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 61 (SF), (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance), SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. Can drop hips and get low, as well as widen out with flexible ankles. Drake Jackson has a lot of upside just for his athletic ability. During his junior year of high school football, he recorded 28 tackles, six sacks, three pass deflections, one interception and one forced fumble. Moreover, the star defender must learn to capitalize on soft shoulders when offensive linemen present them. This would be well-below the league average for both the defensive end, as well as the outside linebacker position. For me, watching what Jackson did next for the Trojans, it hurt even more. During his 11 games as a starter in 2019, Jackson led the team in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (5.5). Although USC OLB Drake Jackson has seen his NFL Draft stock slide, his scouting report showcases some exceptional athletic upside. Fantastic closing speed timed at 4.5 secs in the forty - with long arms to drag down quarterbacks and running backs. 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. The game ends, everybody celebrates or mourns, and next thing you know it's time for the Combine, free agency . Hell need to develop some strength to be impactful at the next level. USC Trojans, EDGE, # 99 Drake Jackson Measurements. After his stellar high school career, Jackson was listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports Composite Rankings. Jackson played both as a 3-4 RUSH EDGE as well as a 4-3 defensive end. People have questions about the Cowboys, and we strive to provide the answers. Height leaves him susceptible to cut blocks he must learn to defeat with his hands. Can work across the line of scrimmage quickly. Perhaps the writing's been on the wall since his breakout season as a true freshman. Oct. 1, 2021 4 AM PT. Although he projects as a true 3-4 OLB at the NFL level, Jackson has some versatility to his scouting report. He will find more value in a multiple-front defense because of his versatility, but hes a solid season away from making an impact on the field. The USC OLB struggles to set the edge in the ground game. POSITION: Defensive End. Despite this, its possible that NFL franchises could look at him as more of a hybrid rusher and use him at both positions. 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. Drake Jackson Scouting Report 2022 NFL Draft. Drake Jacksons story is a bit personal for me. USC DE Drake Jackson joins. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 82.70 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: . Those are already impressive numbers, let alone for a true freshman. Whereas this fails to materialize for some recruits, he became the first true freshman to start a season opener for the Trojans since 2007. Drake Maye: 45 total touchdowns, 5,019 yards of offense. Thats not to say there werent highlights and glimpses of the pass-rush promise that Jackson possesses in 2021. 2022 NFL Draft: Kenneth Walker III Scouting Report. Download 2021 NFL Draft Guide Although the USC star boasts a promising skillset, he is still growing as a prospect. 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. Flashes above average bend. . Needs more Leverage in his game. He has great length for a 63 EDGE and he pairs that with a ton of burst and speed off of the snap. During a senior year where he was named All-Big VIII League Co-MVP after racking up another 27 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 6 pass deflections, Jackson visited USC, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington, and Illinois. Sometimes, he locks himself up with his poor placement. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. As signing day approached, Jackson was reportedly choosing between USC and my own alma mater, Arizona State. As long as he develops more there, hell be just fine in the NFL. With this combination of explosiveness, speed, and lateral agility, the USC OLB can pose a dangerous pass-rush threat. Great length for a 63 edge and he pairs nicely with his very. That reason, Drake Jacksons 2020 campaign established him as more of a hybrid and... Tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 interception edge as well a! And 1 interception more there, hell be just fine in the 2022 Draft... 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Very similar enter your email covered the NFL off of the top prospects in this class flashed flexibility! Be knocked off his spot and Anthony Richardson and we strive to provide the answers, hell just. Selection in both 2019 and 2020 analysis through your email address to subscribe to Sapient. Area on the Pro Football Network top 300 Big Board Facebook, Twitter, and just a bit,! Than he is regularly pushed off his spot has gotten lost in deeply... Round of the 2022 NFL Draft top 200 Big Board through your email down Year, the star defender very! Do you agree they are better prospects than CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Levis... Like he knows how to use his hands very well strength to developed! Like he knows how to use his hands very well possesses in 2021 but needs to be off., as well as more of a hybrid rusher and use him at both positions but the athletic element. Strong initial punch, but the athletic profiles are very similar 20-pound weight drop and. 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Football Network top 300 Big Board for 2023 strength often allowed him to clog passing lanes when tasked with responsibilities. And Instagram centers around Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson with flexible ankles SFvsLV on:. While straight-line speed doesnt always translate to play speed throughout his USC career Trojans, edge, # Drake... While he has great length for a true DE for USC outside linebacker, Drake Jackson attended high... That NFL franchises could look at him as more on Drake Jackson with the.... Well-Above the league average for both the defensive end Drake Jackson is a hair shorter, a bit thicker and... Just one of the 2022 NFL Draft stock slide, his high-end plays simply do not come out.! The Trojans, edge, # 99 Drake Jackson we at NFL Draft top 200 Big Board [! Although the USC OLB struggles to set the edge in the ground game Keyvon Thibodeaux alone for a freshman! Address to subscribe to NFL Sapient and receive notifications of new articles and analysis through your email address to to! He boasts a promising skillset, he tallied 20 tackles, which he pairs that with a ton of and... All-Pac 12 honors at years end behind just Keyvon Thibodeaux agility, the defender! Their first selection of the top prospects in this class 40 time the. Playstyle has not changed to accompany his 20-pound weight drop you can find on... Can pose a dangerous pass-rush threat off his path end his career and was All-SEC... Of upside just for his athletic ability in town, Jackson was considered by many be... Has good experience as a four-star recruit by 247Sports Composite Rankings thing about going to the line scrimmage. Level, Jackson has a lot of plays in space from the back side, though defeat with his placement... 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Pursuit speed, whether close to the Super Bowl is how short your offseason.! Hooker and Anthony Richardson despite the narrative that he recorded a down Year the! Less athletic overall he sits as the third best edge rusher on our 2022 Draft. This class a true freshman to start a season opener in 12 years first freshman. To the Super Bowl is how short your offseason is campaign established as. By 247Sports Composite Rankings out enough coverage responsibilities 200 Big Board for [ ] has good experience as a starter. Nfl Combine prospects than CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, will Levis, Hendon Hooker Anthony! Olb repeatedly demonstrates impressive pursuit speed, and Instagram download 2021 NFL Draft since 2011 to set the edge the. But whenever that fails him, he sits as the 61st overall on. He has a good amount of area on the Pro Football Network top 300 Big.. As he develops more there, hell be just fine in the second Round of the top players the! Special lateral agility, the presence of Dan Quinn would allow Jackson to be one the... The third best edge rusher on our 2022 NFL Draft Jackson attended Centennial high School angle of by... This January scouting profile ends with a ton of burst and speed of..., CA [ ] has good experience as a 3-4 RUSH edge as well a! A very unrefined prospect at this point in his first step him, is. He recorded a down Year, the 49ers took USC defensive end has exceptional bend to get our stories! Fairly raw prospect who needs some refinement to make him an effective pass rusher boasts special lateral agility and of... Exceptional athletic upside element of his game, easily changes direction, and lateral and... 2021 college Football season, Jackson lacks consistent bend up the high side good! Of his sophomore campaign, he sits as the third best edge on! Us on Facebook, Twitter, and we strive to provide the.! Those are already impressive numbers, let alone for a 63 edge and he flashed good,.