In his freshman year, he made the 2019 The Athletic Midseason Freshman All-American team, 2019 247Sports Freshman All-American first team, Pro. Drake London USC #15 Junior Moorpark, CA 6'5" 210. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Drake Jackson. His long arms allow him to clog passing lanes when tasked with coverage responsibilities. Jackson was an immediate contributor at USC. There is a lot to like about Jacksons overall game but he is a very unrefined prospect at this point in his evaluation. He has game-breaking potential. Lateral quickness is above average. Furthermore, Jackson garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Further, he does a great job of reading and diagnosing read-option plays, as well as attacking the ball carrier quickly and efficiently. Hell likely be asked to add strength and fill out his frame a bit more, but Jackson shouldnt have a problem making that happen with an NFL-level strength department. Coming out of high school, Jackson was a 4-star recruit and the third-ranked EDGE in his class. The question is, can he realize that potential? Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota . 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. Although it is less than ideal to lose weight so rapidly, the lighter frame suited the transition to outside linebacker under a new defensive coordinator. 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. Biggest NFL Draft Stories Before the Combine Starts. Nick Bosa. Broad Jump: 127. Door op Alles accepteren te klikken, gaat u ermee akkoord dat Yahoo en onze partners uw persoonlijke informatie zullen verwerken en technologien, zoals cookies zullen gebruiken, om gepersonaliseerde advertenties en inhoud weer te geven, voor het meten van advertenties en inhoud, inzicht in de doelgroep en productontwikkeling. At a time when NFL teams will bank on athletic upside and the ability to coach up the rest, the USC OLB has an excellent base to work with. 1. Great length. 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. 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. Here is where USC's top prospects stand ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine USC linebacker Drake Jackson sacks Colorado quarterback Brendon Lewis on Oct. 2 in Boulder, Colo. Jackson has. Long speed is a concern. The NFL invited 324 draft prospects to its scouting combine in 2022. His weaknesses are primarily a product of his weight, new role and new defensive coordinator. Jackson can be an effective No. Tormented by the decision, he recorded two versions of his commitment video. He played at 275 pounds early in his USC tenure; illness saw him lose a lot of weight. 2019: Jackson, who enrolled at USC in the spring of 2019 after graduating a semester early from high school, was impressive while starting at defensive end as a first-year freshman . Moreover, the California native has impressive power and leg drive. 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. The San Francisco 49ers selected USC defensive end Drake Jackson with the 29th pick (No. Decent first step, above average for the NFL. Not much in the arsenal besides a basic rip-and-dip and a stab. College Football Feature Scouting Reports. 2 out of the gate while he works on adding strength and nuance to his game. He also earned the All-Big VIII League Co-MVP award. To stand out during a pandemic while adapting to a new playing weight, position and defensive coordinator is no easy feat. Jacksons lateral agility and athleticism offer promise to develop in this area, though. During his 2017 campaign, he amassed 28 tackles, 6 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. 38. Type above and press Enter to search. Going into his sophomore season with a new defensive coordinator and at a new position, Jackson dropped 20 pounds from his previously-listed 275. Drake Jackson is a toolsy pass-rusher who may benefit a good deal from NFL weight training and coaching. To finish off the athletic upside element of his scouting report, Jackson displays explosiveness in his first step. Thats not to say there werent highlights and glimpses of the pass-rush promise that Jackson possesses in 2021. The comparison in relative athletic scores between Jackson and Khalil Mack offers a great idea of the kind of athlete Jackson is. It's a good pitch to have, but that could be an issue if that's all he has, which is the case for now. His projected 40 time would also be solid for the linebacker position, but well-above the league average for defensive ends. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Copyright 2020 Newsup. Jackson also demonstrates impressive football intelligence. As said above, needs more consistency against the run. BaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer. Currently, hes excellent at pursuing in space. He's a player who once received top-10 hype; however, his stock declined mightily over the season while others rose. He moves just like a wide receiver, maybe even better than most. Born and raised in Corona, California, Jacksons journey to the 2022 NFL Draft began at Centennial High School. Drake Jackson 40 Time Hell need to develop some strength to be impactful at the next level. Drake Jackson Scouting Report 2022 NFL Draft. His size can be an issue in the run game, where bigger tackles are able to entirely remove him from the game pretty consistently. Ben Liebenberg/AP Photos. Whereas this fails to materialize for some recruits, he became the first true freshman to start a season opener for the Trojans since 2007. Former basketball player who committed to play both sports at USC before focusing on . 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. Good athlete, not great. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). As noted earlier, Jackson should take advantage of his pass rush arsenal more often, as his athleticism gives him clear upside on finesse moves. Has a wide-receiver like . Shoots like a rocket off the line of scrimmage, giving offensive tackles little time to react. On the flip side, he never caused any problems in that area either. With a 6-foot-4 frame and the athleticism to be a threat at all levels of the field, London has a tantalizing skill set. Heading into the 2021 college football season, Jackson was considered by many to be one of the top prospects in this class. 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.. He doesnt have a wide-range of tools in his arsenal to beat offensive linemen, such as spins and twists. Good all-around athlete with very good short-area quickness and fluidity. Duke, the lone ACC program to sign a top-10 . Has nimble feet and good lateral movement - can operate in intermediate zone coverage and handle tight ends one on one. All Rights Reserved. That should entice teams. The now-255-pound athlete has been recorded to have run a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Very good first step and acceleration. Despite this, its possible that NFL franchises could look at him as more of a hybrid rusher and use him at both positions. Jackson has been successful in the past as an edge defender, and has the opportunity to get even better in the NFL. Further, Jacksons playstyle has not changed to accompany his 20-pound weight drop. His drawbacks primarily revolve around his technique. At the next level, hes best as a situational edge rusher who needs to build his strength back up and fine-tune his techniques in run support. Can be slow to react to the ball-carrier and come off blocks. ith their first selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 49ers took USC defensive end Drake Jackson with the No. 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. Another documented factor in Jackson choosing USC over ASU was the opportunity to contribute immediately. Below-average lower-body strength and balance. With a likely draft pick coming somewhere on the second day of the draft, Jackson offers huge upside at a relatively low cost. Play-to-play consistency is there. Keeps his eyes in the backfield when rushing the passer and uses hands and strength to stay in the play. Download 2021 NFL Draft Guide Hell be well served in adding back the pounds he recently shed (weighing 275 his freshman year), and transitioning to a full time defensive end in a 4-3 or a 3-4 system. 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 this combination of explosiveness, speed, and lateral agility, the USC OLB can pose a dangerous pass-rush threat. His athleticism and pass-rushing prowess should have him off the board early on Day 2. Speed is only one component of athleticism. Just one of those prospects is USC edge Drake Jackson. Hes flashed that at times and has the traits to do so. D'Marco Jackson, Appalachian State; Drake Jackson, USC; Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State; Nate . Remains disciplined with assignments and wraps up tackling. Height: 6'4 | Weight: 250 lbs | Class: Junior. In run defense, Jackson needs to add some strength. Not smooth dropping off the line into space. 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. Pro Football Network, LLC. Jackson needs to get better at using his pass rush moves and cycling between them, for one. After making an impact in his sophomore year, the athletic defender broke out in his junior season. Jackson saw a considerable uptick in production as a junior. USC's Drake London has the potential to be that player this year. In many ways, he reminds me of a better version of former Trojan Devon Kennard, an eight-year veteran now playing with the Cardinals. However, I do believe that hell be the fourth-best edge as we approach the end of April. The USC OLB struggles to set the edge in the ground game. Although he projects as a true 3-4 OLB at the NFL level, Jackson has some versatility to his scouting report. However, there is a strong possibility that Jacksons untapped potential was a product of having to fit multiple defensive schemes and changing weights at USC. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 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. Currently, he sits as the 61st overall player on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. "Go get paid. Please check your email for a confirmation. Hell need to add some muscle to keep from getting misdirected and tossed on the line. He does well to chase players in space from the back side, though. The Cowboys EVP spoke on Tuesday out in Indianapolis. AboutPressCopyrightContact. I think he thinks hes more athletic than he is. He. This would be well-below the league average for both the defensive end, as well as the outside linebacker position. His standard rush isnt lacking either, using his bend and quickness to force his way to the quarterback. Statistically, this ended up being his best year, but the context matters. We at NFL Draft Diamonds wanted to highlight our Official Big Board for [] Unfortunately for the USC OLB, the 2021 college football season didnt live up to expectations for him or the Trojans. Dropped 25 pounds since his freshman season. Quick to pick up assignments and holds his own in coverage. - Helped Corona. That wouldve been third among EDGEs at the combine this year. Perhaps the writing's been on the wall since his breakout season as a true freshman. . Limits his ability as a pass rusher. Drake Jackson takes center stage at NFL scouting combine Matt Zemek February 26, 2022 8:21 am PT USC was led the past few college football seasons by the two Drakes, but only one maxed out. Nov 21, 2022 Nikko Buenavidez. Lateral Agility: Effortless. Flashes above average bend. Quick in all aspects of his game, easily changes direction, and chases the action hard. He possesses good speed with size (6-foot-4, 250 pounds). Furthermore, the presence of Dan Quinn would allow Jackson to be directly mentored by one of the best. With Dante Fowler, Chauncey Golston, and Dorance Armstrong already in town, Jackson wont need to play right away. Struggles to work through traffic and hold the perimeter. 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. Jackson could stand to widen his base a bit and find more ways to play through blocks rather than around them. 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 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. Currently, he sits as the 61st overall player on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. 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. Plays very well in the passing game. Although the USC star boasts a promising skillset, he is still growing as a prospect. With excellent change-of-direction ability, he dances around the line of scrimmage and drops back into coverage fluidly when tasked with doing so. All Rights Reserved. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Do Not register if you are not a part of the A's program. Builds to top speed but must take the right line to beat backs to the edge. Jordan Addison (USC) It's hard to doubt Jordan Addison after looking at his production. There are some genuine concerns about Jacksons strength at this moment in his career. 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. Moments of above-average upper-body strength. An relentless edge defender with impressive physical traits, USCs Drake Jackson enters the 2022 NFL draft as one of the more intriguing edge defenders in a deep class. Sign up for the Toronto, ON. In some respects, several of those elements that made him such a highly valued prospect back in the summer still hold firm. Doesnt look like he knows how to use his hands very well. Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Struggles even to get off of tight ends. The poor overall year for USC has distracted from what Jackson can be at the next level. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: EDGE Drake Jackson By Dylan Chappine February 9, 2022 Big Board ranking: #23 Positional ranking: #5 Overview Position: EDGE College: USC Class: Junior Age: 21 Measurables Height: 6'3 5/8" Weight: 254 lbs. For that reason, Drake Jacksons 2020 campaign established him as one of the top players in the nation. Has great bend/flexibility; able to get down low and move around blockers while maintaining momentum. 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. It is also important to remember he is still just 21 years old. Processing: Much of Jacksons game can be summed as inconsistent, which speaks partially to his football IQ. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He took a step back during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season but returned to form in 2021. 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. These issues could result in a limited role early in his NFL career. Gambling problem? Doesnt use his hands much to beat blockers. Was listed at 275 pounds in 2019. He excels with: Length, freaky burst/bend/dip combination Areas of concern: Hands are more active than they are effective, 2021 film featured spindly frame with lacking power. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State (Scouting Report) 3. Five USC players have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine: Drake London, Drake Jackson, Keaontay Ingram, Chris Steele, and Isaac Taylor-Stuart. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. Against the run, the Trojan standout has the strength to bench press, anchor down, fill space and fill. The draft guide also includes three-year grades, advanced stats, player comparisons, 2022 NFL Scouting Combine data, 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl grades and much more. 17 min read. 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