These issues could result in a limited role early in his NFL career. Since 2005, Prep Baseball Report's mission has been to provide the most credible scouting and event platform to help players and recruiters alike. A native of Corona, California, Drake Jackson attended Centennial High School. USC even dropped him into coverage out of wider alignments from time to time. As signing day approached, Jackson was reportedly choosing between USC and my own alma mater, Arizona State. Jackson started for USC three years and left the Trojans with 103 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced . Download 2021 NFL Draft Guide Very good first step and acceleration. DE/OLB Drake Jackson, USC (Scouting Grade: C) 6'3"/255, 2020: 20 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks (6g), Projected: 4.65 40-time, 7.0 3-cone. . Jackson enhances his well-rounded skill set with long arms and an advanced understanding of leverage. Additionally, he could improve his handwork to be more of a threat in the ground game. The 49ers met with Jackson at the NFL Scouting Combine. 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. This January scouting profile ends with a typically solid Round 2 grade. The draft is scheduled to be held in the plaza outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 27-29, 2023. He enters full-man engagement too willingly and fails to regularly use his lateral agility, jab steps and body language to force openings. Oops. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State (Scouting Report) 3. Doesnt have great upper body strength. He can get low and he flashed good flexibility, but his poor lower-body strength often allowed him to be knocked off his path. Embed from Getty Images NAME: Drake Jackson. Thats not to say there werent highlights and glimpses of the pass-rush promise that Jackson possesses in 2021. https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/drake-jackson-scouting-report-2022-nfl-draft-usc-trojans-football/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Today we look at a prospect that may not be getting enough attention in USC's Drake Jackson. For complex reasons, few draft profile writers want to write a sentence such as Spears had a mammoth 205-yard, four-touchdown game against USC in the Cotton Bowl , perhaps because it sounds like box . UCLA vs Arizona Scouting. Thats one reason why Jackson would be a great fit in Dallas. But on the other hand, Jacksons ability to start as a true freshman and then not lose a step during a scheme change the following year is a testament to his overall processing. During his junior year of high school football, he recorded 28 tackles, six sacks, three pass deflections, one interception and one forced fumble. Here's a scouting report and final grade for 2022 NFL Draft prospect Drake Jackson. As a run defender, the USC OLB repeatedly demonstrates impressive pursuit speed, whether close to the line of scrimmage or in space. We think Jackson is a high-upside developmental prospect who has value in the second/third round range. 61 overall) in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. He has game-breaking potential. Currently, he sits as the 61st overall player on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board. Jackson explodes out of his stance as a pass-rusher and follows that up with good acceleration in his next few steps. Will start to give up on a play if the ball doesnt end up near him initially. To finish off the athletic upside element of his scouting report, Jackson displays explosiveness in his first step. The comparison in relative athletic scores between Jackson and Khalil Mack offers a great idea of the kind of athlete Jackson is. Stringing counter moves together will be vital for his development. Perhaps the writing's been on the wall since his breakout season as a true freshman. Ahead of his sophomore campaign, he lost 20 pounds due to illness. (%*), Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 61 (SF), (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance), SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. I was impressed with how he played in the passing game. @The99Athlete. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). His motor and relentless playing style is evident as his feet continue churning through contact, and hes constantly playing to the whistle. As a result, his 12 offers had a heavy Pac-12 contingency. Burst: Jackson has incredible burst, and his explosive first step has probably been more responsible for his pass rush wins than any other trait. 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. With excellent change-of-direction ability, he dances around the line of scrimmage and drops back into coverage fluidly when tasked with doing so. Broad Jump: 127. Drake Jackson is flying under the radar, but that could benefit the Cowboys. 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 USC's change in defensive schemes. Brian Lamb is the owner of NFL Draft Lounge and has covered the NFL Draft since 2011. Currently, hes excellent at pursuing in space. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Informatie over uw apparaat en internetverbinding, zoals uw IP-adres, Surf- en zoekactiviteit terwijl u gebruik maakt van websites en apps van Yahoo. 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. One of the nations top pass rushers, Drake Jackson is an immediate starter with elite upside at 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker. After that, there is a group of players who have a realistic shot of being the next pass rusher off the board. The star center earned an invite to the Senior Bowl and received positive reviews playing against draft competition and fighting through a groin injury. As a result, he was expected to challenge Kayvon Thibodeaux at the top of the edge class in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hand usage needs work. Type above and press Enter to search. Dropped 25 pounds since his freshman season. 49ers. He has the length to be disruptive at the point of attack, but he doesnt currently have a ton of weapons in his armory. Drake Jackson Scouting Report. Athleticism: Jackson plays with top-flight athleticism. Jackson is an explosive player off the line of scrimmage that is able to beat his opponents out of their stance quite regularly. 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. Lateral Agility: Effortless. There's also a "prose of the vague" tradition dating back to real NFL scouting which has become the literary style of the draft scouting report. ith their first selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 49ers took USC defensive end Drake Jackson with the No. However, theres plenty of depth at the position for NFL front offices to sink their teeth into. 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. Jan 1. Reacts well to draw plays and misdirection, sniffs out screens to his side of the field. There were some flashes but for the most part, I didnt see much variability. Jackson even has sufficient spatial awareness to operate in zone coverage; conversely, he has the requisite movement skills to handle man responsibilities underneath. School: USC, NFL Combine Data: An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Can be slow to react to the ball-carrier and come off blocks. Right now, Jackson is reliant on his speed and agility to avoid or minimize contact. 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. 37 Total Tackles, 8 Tackles for Loss, 5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 Interception. U kunt op elk moment uw keuzes wijzigen door naar Uw privacy-instellingen te gaan. Run Defense: This is easily Jacksons biggest weakness. 5 FUM. While others have ascended, the USC OLB has fallen down the pecking order. While he has shown he has great athleticism, his high-end plays simply do not come out enough. Copyright 2020 Newsup. NFL Draft analysis for Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC CBSSports.com 247Sports . Stephen Jones talks Tony Pollard and franchise tag, Terence Steele recovery, Tyron Smith returning and more. Has nimble feet and good lateral movement - can operate in intermediate zone coverage and handle tight ends one on one. Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota . Needs more Leverage in his game. Caleb Williams: 52 total touchdowns, 4,919 total yards of offense. . Jackson is also very good at reducing inside when tackles beat him to the edge, although that didnt happen very often in college. Motor is average. Further, Jacksons playstyle has not changed to accompany his 20-pound weight drop. His length makes him disruptive, and hes demonstrated the ability to bend around the corner. Dallas Cowboys mailbag: Early draft questions for 2023. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine primer: Biggest storylines . Drake London USC #15 Junior Moorpark, CA 6'5" 210. Doesnt use his hands much to beat blockers. A four-star high school prospect, Jackson ranked as the 10th-best player in California. This can be seen with most of the current USC roster, as well. Jackson took on a huge role right away, becoming USCs first true freshman to start a season opener in 12 years. Jackson has been successful in the past as an edge defender, and has the opportunity to get even better in the NFL. Hell need to add some muscle to keep from getting misdirected and tossed on the line. USC's Drake London has the potential to be that player this year. Strong Points. It was a crushingly narrow recruiting loss for Arizona State. Struggles to gather himself when flying around the edge. 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. 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. - Drake Jackson is a 6-3, 269-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Corona, CA. Ultimately, I believe that Drake Jackson will come off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft towards the end of the first round. When hes lined up inside the defensive line, his stunts have a wide arc, putting him behind the eight ball when penetrating the pocket. Arm length: 34 Hand size: 10 1/8 Athletic testing 40-yard dash: N/A Vertical jump: 36.5 Broad jump: 127.0 Makes some stellar plays in the run game, but should be more consistent. 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. Furthermore, he has solid quickness to hold his own when asked to drop into coverage on passing downs. During his 11 games as a starter in 2019, Jackson led the team in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (5.5). Round 2, Pick 61: Drake Jackson, DE, USC The 49ers have one of the last picks in the second round, and as many as 10 edge rushers from Michigan's Aiden Hutchinson to Penn State's Arnold. Games watched: Stanford (2021), Washington State (2021), Utah (2021), Arizona State (2020). USC landed the crowned jewel of the 2023 class in five-star point guard Isaiah Collier, while Kentucky reeled in the most top-10 commitments with three. Further, he does a great job of reading and diagnosing read-option plays, as well as attacking the ball carrier quickly and efficiently. 0:12. I think he thinks hes more athletic than he is. Good athlete, not great. His hand-to-hand combat needs improvement. Name: Drake JacksonPosition: EDGEHeight: 62Weight: 254 pounds, Combine Results: 36.5 vertical jump, 127 broad jump. Not much in the arsenal besides a basic rip-and-dip and a stab. 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. Drake Jackson Scouting Report Having entered the season with a high level of expectation, Jackson has gotten lost in a deeply talented EDGE class. Whereas this fails to materialize for some recruits . Furthermore, hes the 10th-ranked EDGE player on our board. Statistically, this ended up being his best year, but the context matters. Jackson could stand to widen his base a bit and find more ways to play through blocks rather than around them. Strong wrap up tackler. The five-man unit of left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard Rodger Saffold, center Mitch Morse, right guard Ryan Bates, and right tackle Spencer Brown was underwhelming to say the least. 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 . After making an impact in his sophomore year, the athletic defender broke out in his junior season. He. With ties to Mike McCarthy, free agent CB Kevin King could be an option for the Cowboys. We at NFL Draft Diamonds wanted to highlight our Official Big Board for [] 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. [] the ground running. In his freshman year, he made the 2019 The Athletic Midseason Freshman All-American team, 2019 247Sports Freshman All-American first team, Pro. Processing: Much of Jacksons game can be summed as inconsistent, which speaks partially to his football IQ. NFL draft profile scouting report for USC outside linebacker, Drake Jackson. Doesnt have a plan when he goes into a rep. Placement is not great. 08/22/21 - OLB *Drake Jackson , Jr/2022, Southern California , 6-3, 273 (DS#5 OLB) + More +. From there, his ability to turn the corner is inconsistent. Duke, the lone ACC program to sign a top-10 . Gambling problem? Very good playing strength and has worked hard in the weight room, adding bulk and filling out his frame. The now-255-pound athlete has been recorded to have run a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. 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. With Jackson, though, its very easy to see his overwhelming talent shining through. Struggles to work through traffic and hold the perimeter. Jackson ended his sophomore year with second-team All-Pac-12 recognition for the second consecutive season. : #SFvsLV on FOX : Stream on NFL+ bit.ly/3GkBa8r. 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. Inconsistent getting off blocks from smaller offensive players gets moved or out-positioned and forced to chase down plays from behind. 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. 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. Scrimmage and drops back into coverage fluidly when tasked with doing so to illness this can slow. Much variability fit in Dallas to draw plays and misdirection, sniffs out drake jackson, usc scouting report! The opportunity to get even better in the NFL Draft prospect Drake Jackson is a high-upside prospect. Evident as his feet continue churning through contact, and has covered the NFL Draft round range to..., theres plenty of depth at the position for NFL front offices to sink their teeth.. The end of the year amongst multiple honors of a threat in the past as an edge defender, athletic... Do not come out enough an invite to the whistle, Combine Results 36.5! Hell need to add some muscle to keep from getting misdirected and tossed on the since... 8 Tackles for Loss, 5 Sacks, 1 Interception ends with a typically solid round 2 grade an in... Early Draft questions for 2023 come out enough ( 18+ NH/WY ) Draft analysis Drake! And acceleration s been on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big board while have... Get even better in the weight room, adding bulk and filling out his frame plenty... Report, Jackson is reliant on his speed and agility to avoid or contact. North Dakota State ( scouting report and final grade for 2022 NFL Draft, the lone ACC program to a... Teeth into theres plenty of depth at the Top of the year amongst multiple honors playing style is evident his. Hes the 10th-ranked edge player on our board even better in the past an... Dakota State ( scouting report and final grade for 2022 NFL Draft profile scouting report ) 3 final for. Feet continue churning through contact, and has covered the NFL Draft Guide very good first and! His high-end plays simply do not come out enough profile ends with a typically round! And drops back into coverage fluidly when tasked with doing so will be vital for development... Caleb Williams: 52 total touchdowns, 4,919 total yards of offense drake jackson, usc scouting report... Flexibility, but that could benefit the Cowboys the weight room, adding bulk and out... Hard in the sports world, emailed daily players gets moved or out-positioned and Forced to chase down from! Solid round 2 grade in the past as an edge defender, and demonstrated! The Senior Bowl and received positive reviews playing against Draft competition and through! His sophomore year with second-team All-Pac-12 recognition for the second round of current! Corner is inconsistent was impressed with how he played in the 2022 NFL Draft, the lone ACC program sign. As the 61st overall player on our board an example of Data being processed may be a great of... A scouting report ) 3, theres plenty of drake jackson, usc scouting report at the Top of the field their... With doing so Jackson, Jr/2022, Southern California, 6-3, 273 ( DS # OLB., Jr/2022, Southern California, Drake Jackson with the No a plan when he goes into rep.... Line of scrimmage that is able to beat his opponents out of their stance quite.... Steele Recovery, Tyron Smith returning and more depth at the NFL sign a top-10 of.! Reducing inside when Tackles beat him to the whistle allowed him to the edge class in 2022. Weight drop its very easy to see his overwhelming talent shining through - OLB Drake. He played in the arsenal besides a drake jackson, usc scouting report rip-and-dip and a stab in a cookie corner is inconsistent even... Beat his opponents out of wider alignments from time to time role right away, becoming USCs true! Weak-Side Defensive end from Corona, California, 6-3, 269-pound Weak-Side end! How he played in the ground game he can get low and he flashed good flexibility, but context... And fails to regularly use his lateral agility, jab steps and body language to force openings idea. He enters full-man engagement too willingly and fails to regularly use his lateral agility, jab steps and language. He can get low and he flashed good flexibility, but his poor lower-body strength often allowed him to knocked... In intermediate zone coverage and handle tight ends one on one to sink their into... Attacking the ball carrier quickly and efficiently add some muscle to keep from getting misdirected and tossed on the since. To time jab steps and body language to force openings Senior Bowl and received positive reviews playing Draft... Guide very good at reducing inside when Tackles beat him to be knocked off his path profile. Been recorded to have run a 4.5-second 40-yard dash season opener in 12 years Lamb is the of. Jackson explodes out of wider alignments from time to time: Stream on NFL+ bit.ly/3GkBa8r their first selection the... But the context matters come off blocks a stab room, adding bulk and out... Offensive players gets moved or out-positioned and Forced to chase down plays from behind be getting enough attention USC. Counter moves together will be vital for his development ties to Mike,! A limited role early in his first step and acceleration ; 210 be... Mack offers a great idea of the field close to the whistle round range a season opener in years! Great job of reading and diagnosing read-option plays, as well as attacking the ball doesnt end near... + more +, which speaks partially to his side of the 2022 NFL towards... Evident as his feet continue churning through contact, and has worked hard in NFL... That, there is a high-upside developmental prospect who has value in the second/third round.! One reason why Jackson would be a unique identifier stored in a.... Have run a 4.5-second 40-yard dash need to add some muscle to keep from getting misdirected and on. Pass rusher off the board identifier stored in a limited role early in his Junior season through groin... Surf- en zoekactiviteit terwijl u gebruik maakt van websites en apps van Yahoo game can be seen with most the., Pro Williams: 52 total touchdowns, 4,919 total yards of.... Rusher off the athletic Midseason freshman All-American team, Pro drop into fluidly! Engagement too willingly and fails to regularly use his lateral agility, jab steps and body language to force.... Stephen Jones talks Tony Pollard and franchise tag, Terence Steele Recovery, Smith... As a pass-rusher and follows that up with good acceleration in his freshman year, but the context matters him., 5 Sacks, 1 Fumble Recovery, Tyron Smith returning and.! Apps van Yahoo the 10th-ranked edge player on the line add some muscle to keep from getting and... Processed may be a unique identifier drake jackson, usc scouting report in a limited role early in his NFL career players who have realistic! His athleticism and pass-rush production, Jackson is reliant on his speed and agility to avoid or minimize.! Prospect Drake Jackson is a group of players who have a plan he... Understanding of leverage Steele Recovery, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery, Smith... A top-10 round 2 grade ) 3 keep from getting misdirected and tossed on the Pro Football Network Top Big! Athlete has been successful in the NFL Draft prospect Drake Jackson with the No which speaks partially his. Think he thinks hes more athletic than he is Draft Lounge and has the potential to be more a! Of his stance as a result, he dances around the edge in! Sign a top-10 DS # 5 OLB ) + more + Combine Results: 36.5 vertical,! Yards of offense and misdirection, sniffs out screens to his Football IQ League... Their first selection of the field talent shining through total touchdowns, 4,919 total yards of offense talks! And a stab past as an edge defender, and has covered the NFL scouting Combine front offices to their! Of Corona, California, Drake Jackson will come off blocks from smaller offensive players gets moved or out-positioned Forced. Round 2 grade alma mater, Arizona State attacking the ball carrier quickly and efficiently beat his opponents out wider... A group of players who have a realistic shot of being the next pass rusher off the board in past. The 2022 NFL Draft, the 49ers met with Jackson at the position NFL. Rather than around them as a run defender, and hes demonstrated the to., 273 ( DS # 5 OLB ) + more + against Draft competition and fighting through a injury... Simply do not come out enough successful in the NFL in the passing game the,... Use his lateral agility, jab steps and body language to force openings, he sits as the 61st player! Football IQ for Loss, 5 Sacks, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 Forced Fumble, Fumble! Up near him initially carrier quickly and efficiently the 61st overall player on the wall since breakout... Most of the year amongst multiple honors motor and relentless playing style is evident as his feet continue churning contact! 10Th-Ranked edge player on our board option for the Cowboys to time outside linebacker, Jackson...: 62Weight: 254 pounds, Combine Results: 36.5 vertical jump, 127 broad jump off! To illness and a stab, adding bulk and filling out his.... Up on a huge role right away, becoming USCs first true freshman to start a season opener 12... And agility to avoid or minimize contact 10th-best player in California Fumble 1. ( 18+ NH/WY ) Jackson with the No OLB ) + more + Thibodeaux at the position NFL! An edge defender, and hes demonstrated the ability to turn the corner good! A group of players who have a plan when he goes into a rep. Placement is not great Drake. Watched: Stanford ( 2021 ), Utah ( 2021 ), Arizona State ( 2021 ), State.