Drake

Jackson

Jackson suffered a season-ending knee injury for the second time in as many seasons, this time before the 2024 season even started. Jackson flashed at times in his first two NFL seasons but recurring knee injuries coupled with poor rookie season conditioning will ultimately limit him to just 23 games played in three years.

Jackson played in just eight games last season and recorded three sacks — all of which came in Week 1 against the Steelers. The former second-round pick was placed on injured reserve following knee surgery in mid-November. In 23 career games, Jackson has totaled 21 tackles and six sacks, along with five TFLs. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Jackson is out through the duration of training camp “at a minimum,” suggesting his absence could stretch into the regular season. This is presumably the same knee injury that ended Jackson’s campaign last year.

A blue-chip recruit, Jackson (6’3/254) produced right out of the gate with 46 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, and three PBUs while earning Freshman All-American recognition. He dropped down to 240 pounds as a sophomore in order to fit the new defensive scheme and still maintained his second-team All-Pac 12 level of play. Jackson earned his third-consecutive All-Pac 12 nod last year while beefing back up to the 255-pound range, leading a flawed USC defense with 8.0 TFLs and posting a career-best 87.7 PFF pass-rush grade. Though he didn’t run the 40-yard dash, his jumping and agility tests were all very good and his burst around the edge is evident on tape. He plays off his speed advantage well by varying the tempo of his rush while deploying hesitation, hand swat, and dip maneuvers to free himself from blockers and go on the hunt. He has ideal length with his 34” arms, but he lacks the power to bullrush many NFL tackles and can lose gap integrity in the run game when he overpursues. Jackson has the motor and requisite athleticism to excel at the NFL level if he can improve his play strength.

Jackson (6'4"/265) was already a well-built and athletic prospect, but it sounds like he wanted to step his game up. The former Trojan said during his media interview that he’s gained 15lbs during the preparation for the combine. He mentioned that he needed to increase his weight in order to compete against players at the NFL and he focused on his body as he prepares for the draft. He continued to say with this added weight he has not lost a step or his explosiveness. The linebacker frequently lined up as an edge rusher and finished with totaled 69 quarterback pressures and 13 sacks at the college level.

Jackson (6'4/250) announced on Saturday his plans to declare for the NFL Draft, after a 2021 season in which he totaled a career-high six sacks while posting 26 quarterback pressures and 29 tackles according to Pro Football Focus. Jackson has totaled 69 quarterback pressures and 13 career sacks per PFF.com, and was one of the highest-graded pass rushers of the 2021 season, sporting a pass rush grade of 87.7 on the year. Jackson spent most of the season as an EDGE rusher, lining up along the defensive line on 399 of his snaps.

On Sunday, USC interim head coach Donte Williams said that Jackson (6'4/275) suffered a lower leg injury last week. He tried to push through, but Williams said it just didn’t work out. The veteran linebacker is one of their best defensive players upfront as he has a team-leading five sacks this season. We’ll have to monitor his status throughout the week as USC prepares for a game against BYU.

Jackson (6'4/275) was put in a boot following his injury in Saturday’s game, but it was unclear how long he would need said boot. Well, Jackson showed up with it on Monday, so it appears as though this foot injury could keep Jackson out for some time. His official status should be updated as the week goes on. Jackson has 3.5 sacks on the year so far.

Jack was back on the sidelines in the second half with a crutch and a walking boot on his left foot. He also left last week’s game against Notre Dame due to a thigh injury, so it’s been a tough stretch for the talented pass rusher.

Jackson (6'4/260) entered the game with 22 total tackles, including 12 solo stops, with three sacks and three passes defensed across his previous five games. His status for next week’s home game against Arizona will be updating during the week most likely.

“The Corona, Calif., native and four-star prospect just looked like he belonged from the very start of spring practices,” Morales wrote in his analysis of Jackson, who according to the writer was compared to former USC stars Leonard Williams and Cameron Jordan by DC Clancy Pendergast. Jackson (6'4/260) had one of the highlights of USC’s spring game, as he picked off a pass with one hand and returned it for a score. The early enrollee spent much of the spring working with the twos, but in Morales’ view Jackson may find himself on the field sooner rather than later due to his ability to make plays.