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Drake Jackson

C

Kentucky

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6'2"

Height

Weight

293

Vertical
Hand
Arm
Wingspan
31 1/2"
8 1/4"
31 1/8"
77 1/4"
3-Cone
Vertical
Broad Jump
Bench Press
31 1/2"
40-Time
10-Time-1
20-Time-2
20-Shuttle

6.96

Final Grade

2020 - Separated Shoulder (Senior Bowl), Groin Injury (Kept him from full participation at Pro Day)

Injury History

Games Evaluated

2020 - NC State, Alabama, Georgia

Team Fit

NYG

PIT

SF

Strengths 

I love Jackson's intelligence at the center position. Does a great job of communicating with the offense, calling out potential stunts/blitzes. Handles those stunts very well in pass protection, keeping his hand on a shivel and adjusting to pick up those blocks. Is at his best in the run game. Has a quick first step off the ball and is very reliable on down blocks with that solid step to get to the inside. Also showed a great ability to pull from the center position and get up to the next level. Does a very good job of finding work at the second level.

Weaknessess

Lacks a ton of physicality in his game. Is more of a seal blocker in the run game which worked out for him in college but would like to see him show that he can create more movement off the line of scrimmage. Doesn't have much of a mauling ability to his game. Does a sufficient job in pass protection but didn't do it as much as Kentucky didn't have much of a passing game. Needs to work on more physicality with his hands and not getting knocked back as easily by stronger interior pass rushers. His lack of size and length could also be an area of concern for some teams.

Big Picture

Drake Jackson is one of the most underrated prospects in this draft in my opinion. I have him ranked as my fourth best center in this draft class. Had a very successful four-year career at Kentucky as the starting center in what they called the "Big Blue Wall" for a run-heavy offense. Started in 44 consecutive games from his freshman year and on. Was named First Team All-SEC as a junior and Second Team as a senior. Elected a team captain in his senior year. Jackson stands out to me as a very sound, well-rounded center. Is very solid from a fundamental standpoint and has a very high football IQ. Also has the athleticism to pull and get to the next level in the run game which will help him succeed at center but could also earn him some looks in training camp at center, which he took some reps at during his time at the Senior Bowl. I see him as a center that can come in and be a solid backup/rotational guy as a rookie and quickly develop into a starter for a team that either has an aging player at the position or a starter who just isn't getting the job done. Jackson will likely be drafted early on Day 3 of this year's NFL Draft but will prove to have tremendous draft value at that spot.

Player Comp

Ben Jones

Athleticism:

6.8

Quickness
Flexibility
Lateral Agility
Explosion
Balance
Play Strength
7.2
7
7
6.5
6.6
6.5

Run Blocking:

7.07

7.25

7.25

Big Play Ability

Down Blocking
Movement off L.O.S.
Reach Block
Pull & Block Outside
Adjust in Space
Use of Hands
7.2
6.6
7
7.3
7.3
7

Pass Blocking:

6.93

7.25

Quick Set
Leverage
Mirror Ability
Anchor/Reset Ability
Ability to Combat Inside Move
Hands/Punch
7.1
6.8
7
6.9
7
6.8

Competitiveness:

6.93

7.25

Instincts

7.25

Field Vision

Decision Making

Pre-Snap Adjustment

7.25

7.25

Toughness
Consistency/Motor
Mauling Ability
7.1
7.2
6.50

Intelligence:

7.10

7.25

Communication
Handle Games/Stunts
Position Versatility
7.3
6.8
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