The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Player Profile - 4.5.09

Pros: Jackson has the size and strength to play in a 4-3 or a 3-4, so unlike many of the ends in this college class, the former Bayou Bengal has no questions to answer in terms of his ability to play along the line of scrimmage. He does a great job of blowing up plays in the backfield, with his play against the run the strength of his game. Jackson is a disciplined football player, who sticks to his responsibilities and doesn’t lose containment. He shows the ability to handle double teams and still be a force at the line of scrimmage. Jackson is a very solid tackler and shows enough quickness for a man of his size to be able to chase runners and quarterbacks down from behind. He is tough, instinctive and has also proven to be very durable throughout his career in Baton Rouge. Jackson is a well-spoken young man, understands how to play within the team concept and comes with the reputation as a good leader.

Cons: Jackson lacks the high-end speed and quickness to be a dominating pass rusher. He had just 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons and simply won’t be a playmaker coming off the edge at the next level, which many teams look for when using a first round pick for a defensive end (particularly those who employ a 4-3 scheme). He struggles to break down in one-on-one situations and can be beat by quick backs. As purely a 4-3 end, Jackson has second or third round value.

Scouts Take: With more and more teams switching to the 3-4 defense, Jackson is the top prospect for those in need of a big force at defensive end. His value is playing on the interior, using his stoutness to stuff the run and hold down the fort. He should be able to start from day one and command double teams, which will free up linebackers to make plays the same way an offensive line sets up a star tailback. He won’t fill the stat sheet or show up on highlight reels, but he will do his job and allow others to shine. His value goes far beyond the numbers, especially for a 4-3 team, which should make him a mid-first round pick. Teams that play the 4-3 may look at the LSU product as someone who can shift inside on passing downs and play some defensive tackle.

School Bio

Scout's Take - 8.15.08

Pros: This Bayou Bengal is the prototypical hand-in-the-dirt defensive end, Jackson possesses a quick first step that has beat many offensive tackles at the college level. A key cog of the Tigers’ defense, Jackson enters 2008 with 40 games played (26 starts), so durability is not an issue with this Louisiana native. He has the ideal size, bulk, strength and weight to play on the line of scrimmage and be a force against the run. He plays with discipline and in passing situations he gets his hands up if he doesn’t get to the quarterback.

Cons: Lacking speed and explosiveness off the edge, he will need to expand his repertoire to find success at the pro level. Jackson’s upside is limited as he will not be big time pass rusher at the next level. He has also benefited from playing along side some of the most talented players in college football and to some extent could be a product of his surroundings at LSU.

Overall: Jackson is not a playmaker in the mold of a Chris Long or Vernon Gholston (top ten picks in 2008), but is strong and stout. He has proven himself in the talent-laden SEC (86 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for losses and 14 sacks for his career). Jackson may be able to play in a 3-4 scheme or as a tackle in a 4-3 alignment, which adds to his value. However, he’s not the sure-fire first round pick many project.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media