Darrell Jackson Jr. DT Florida State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Darrell Jackson Jr. DT Florida State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 11/29/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 5.05 seconds (63%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH | |
Last Updated: 11/29/2024 | |
Draft Year: 2025 | |
40 time: 5.05 seconds (63%*) | |
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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Overall Rating: | 84.6 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
Offense Rating: |
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79% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
Tackling: |
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54% |
Pass Rush: |
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76% |
Run Defense: |
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74% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#80
Position rank:
#29
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College Games: 38 College Snaps: 1169 | ||
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Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
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Travis Jones - UConn |
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80% |
Jerrod Clark - Coastal Carolina |
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76% |
Keeanu Benton - Wisconsin |
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71% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Darrell Jackson Jr. attended Gadsden County High School in Havana, Florida, where he played defensive end, defensive tackle, and tight end. During his senior season in 2020, he recorded 23 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup across seven games as his team reached the 4A state playoff semifinals. He initially signed with Maryland as a three-star recruit, where he was rated as the No. 44 strongside defensive end by Rivals.At Maryland in 2021, Jackson appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman, including a start in the Pinstripe Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. He totaled 22 tackles during his freshman campaign, highlighted by six-tackle performances against both Illinois and Virginia Tech. After transferring to Miami in 2022, he started all 12 games and increased his production to 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks. His season-best performance came against North Carolina where he recorded seven tackles.
Following another transfer to Florida State in 2023, Jackson was required to sit out the regular season due to NCAA transfer rules. His lone appearance came in the Orange Bowl against Georgia, where he recorded three tackles including 0.5 for loss. Standing 6'5" and weighing 330 pounds, Jackson enters the 2024 draft having appeared in 25 collegiate games with 13 starts, accumulating 49 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and one pass breakup across his three-school career.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional anchor strength and natural leverage allows him to hold his ground against double teams while maintaining gap integrity and redirecting running backs
- Massive frame with elite length creates immediate problems for interior offensive linemen - uses those 35-inch arms to keep blockers off his chest
- Shows some nasty when he gets penetration, displaying the ability to collapse the pocket with pure power and natural leverage
- Quick first step for his size enables him to shoot gaps before offensive linemen can properly set their base and establish position
- Heavy hands pack a serious punch at the point of attack - when he lands his initial strike clean, blockers struggle to recover
- Surprising lateral agility allows him to work down the line of scrimmage and make plays outside his gap against zone runs
- Natural power player who can walk back centers and undersized guards into the quarterback's lap when he gets his momentum going
- Shows good awareness against screens and draws, rarely getting caught upfield and leaving his run fits exposed
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Pass rush plan remains underdeveloped - relies too heavily on bull rush and needs to expand his repertoire of counter moves
- Can play too high at times, especially when fatigued, negating his natural leverage advantage and making him easier to control
- Tackling technique needs refinement - tends to leave his feet and dive rather than breaking down and wrapping up consistently
- Limited experience against elite competition due to multiple transfers has left some questions about his ability to dominate top opponents
- Motor runs hot and cold - shows elite effort in spurts but needs to maintain that intensity throughout entire games
Scouting Report: Summary
Put on the tape and you'll see a raw ball of clay who could be molded into something special. Jackson's got the kind of rare physical traits that make D-line coaches drool - when he plays with proper leverage and lets that natural power take over, he can flat-out wreck an offensive gameplan. The challenge will be getting him to play with consistent technique and maintaining his intensity level snap after snap. His year away from live action in 2023 shows up in some sloppy habits, but nothing that can't be cleaned up with NFL coaching.The transfer portal journey raises some eyebrows, but the film shows clear development at each stop. This isn't a finished product by any means - Jackson needs work expanding his pass rush arsenal beyond pure power moves and cleaning up his tackle technique. But guys with his combination of size, length, and movement skills are rare commodities. He's shown he can dominate in spurts against Power 5 competition. Now it's about stringing those dominant reps together consistently.
A team taking Jackson likely won't get immediate impact, but they'll be grabbing a high-ceiling prospect who could develop into a force on the interior. His ideal fit is with a patient defense that can rotate him in early while letting him develop. Reminds me a bit of Vita Vea coming out, though not quite as refined. The tools are there for Jackson to become a tone-setting presence against both run and pass if he puts it all together. Draft him early Day 3 and reap the rewards in year two or three when the lightbulb fully clicks.
How other scouting services rate Darrell Jackson Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
105.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
36.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.