2017 NFL Draft Profile: Adoree’ Jackson
Coming into the draft, Adoree’ Jackson is one of the many players that played at several positions during his college career. Known for his athleticism, Jackson has certainly caught the eye of many.
Combine Results
Adoree’ Jackson put his athleticism on display at the combine. With the attention of scouts and the media on a stacked defensive back class, Jackson made sure to make his mark.
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 186 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds
Vertical Jump: 36 inches
Broad Jump: 122 inches
Strengths
Athleticism. You can’t talk about Jackson without mentioning his athleticism. Putting up a 4.42 at the combine emphasises it further. When watching Jackson at USC, his speed, explosiveness, agility and fluidity in his movement stand out. Whether it be on defense, his primary position, or on offense, he is going to make an impact.
He is the type of player that will put his fingerprints on the game,and make plays. One standout play the shows his athleticism, is one that took place against Alabama. Lining up on their 20 yard line, Jalen Hurts offloads it to Damien Harris who finds gap and goes. Off to the races and an imminent Alabama touchdown in the works, Jackson pursued Harris like he was hunting for his prey. Tackling him on 9 yard line, Jackson saved a touchdown. His closing speed is exceptional. This play is the very essence of what Jackson is about.
His play in coverage is another area that stands out. Having play recognition skills is crucial, Jackson has that. Stepping up and making plays is what he does. On multiple occasions, Jackson shows the ability bait the quarterback into making a throw that he thinks is safe, little do they know that Jackson will step up and close down the receiver, resulting in either an interception or a break up.
Talking of interceptions, during his career at USC he had six, five in 2016 where he primarily lined up at cornerback. One of these interceptions returned for a touchdown. Adding this, Jackson has the ability in knowing when to make a play when lined up against an offense that makes a vertical/deep play. An example of this can be seen against Washington. Lining up against John Ross, known for his incredible speed, Jackson was able to hold his own when going down the field. At the perfect time, Jackson jumped for the ball and broke up the play that could have been deadly.
Versatility. During his college career, Jackson lined up on defense and offense. Lining up as a returner and a receiver proved that Jackson can make an impact anywhere on the field. When lined up at wide receiver, he had a total of 39 receptions for 628 yards and six touchdowns. At returner, he had an average kick return of 27 yards with four touchdowns and a punt return average of 12.6 yards and four touchdowns. His ability to make an impact anywhere on the field is going to prove to be an important asset for that team that drafts him.
Weaknesses
When playing as a defensive back, size is important. Some of the best defensive backs in the NFL currently, such as Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson, are 6 foot and over. In the case of Adoree’ Jackson, he is only 5’10”. This obviously is an issue. Lining up against some of the bigger receivers in the NFL, Jackson is going to struggle. Receivers have the option to jump above him to make the catch. When this comes to the NFL, this will severely be punished in the form of big and crucial plays. On the outside Jackson may struggle, which suggest that he may be preferred in the slot. Despite this, size is still going to be an issue and will ultimately have an impact on how teams view Jackson as an overall player.
As mentioned above, Jackson lined up on offense and defense at USC. In fact he originally joined USC as an athlete where he had a career in football and track and field at college level. Despite offering versatility, this can also be an issue. Playing so many positions at USC didn’t allow for Jackson develop his draft in one specific role. It wasn’t really until his final season at USC where he primarily lined up as a defensive back. As a result, the vital development he would have gained lining up as a defensive back has been lost.
The Verdict
The athleticism of Adoree’ Jackson is impressive. Wherever he is on the field, he is sure to have an influence. The versatility he possesses provides teams with a weapon in many situations that could ultimately make the difference. However the issues in regards to be undersized and lacking specified position (CB, WR, KR, PR) during his college career, this may have an influence in how teams evaluate Jackson. He is raw talent on both sides of the field. With the correct development Jackson could prove to be an important asset to any team. There is a possibility that he could be an early impact player in the NFL.
RAF Big Board Ranking: #23
Draft Prediction: With the plethora of talent at defensive back, I can see Adoree’ Jackson going in the second round.