NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Lawrence Jackson, DE
by Sam Monson
5/3/2008
 
Lawrence Jackson is yet another USC player looking to be drafted, and drafted high, in the 2008 NFL Draft. Jackson had a stellar career at USC and now hopes to convince the NFL he has what it takes to terrorise NFL quarterbacks like he was able to in college. The signs are good for Jackson. This is a strong class of defensive ends, and he ranks highly amongst them.
 
At Inglewood High School, Jackson was the typical level of star recruit you would expect Pete Carroll to go after at USC, being part of the Super Prep Elite 50, Tom Lemming's top 100, and the Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team. Jackson enrolled at USC in 2003, and went on to start 51 of 52 games in his college career, pairing with Sedrick Ellis to form a formidable defensive front for USC in the 2007 season especially.
 
Jackson leaves for the NFL hoping to show he belongs with the elite names in this strong class of defensive ends. He had a very mediocre week at the Senior Bowl, showing his size and speed, but little else - often being stoned by the elite offensive tackles and failing to show much of a repertoire in his pass rush moves. He went some way towards repairing his reputation with his workouts at the Combine however, when he looked athletic and explosive during drills. For a player who many were projecting as a 3-4 end, he looked athletic enough to even stand up at times during his workouts.
 
What we like about Jackson
 
Jackson has eye popping measurables. He is 6'4 and 271lbs, and displays a nice blend of strength and speed. NFL personnel will like the versatility that Jackson brings to the table, as he likely has a home in any NFL defensive scheme. Strength is Jackson's real asset, as he is very difficult to move away from the ball, and was kicked inside to play defensive tackle in obvious passing situations by Pate Carroll at USC. Jackson should be a top performer against the run in the NFL very early, and has the explosion and athleticism to be a quality pass rusher. Jackson has played against top competition week in and week out at USC for his entire career so shouldn't be surprised by the level of competition in the NFL.
 
Question marks about Jackson
 
Does Jackson have the natural pass rushing skills to succeed in the NFL? When stripped down to 1 on 1 drills at the Senior Bowl practices, Jackson looked out of his depth. When confronted by a player who can match his strength and speed, he showed no ability to beat him with technique or pass-rush skills, which will worry NFL scouts. In the NFL, everybody is a quality athlete, and all too often a big-school athlete comes out having dominated their college career relying on their size and speed only to struggle at the next level. He is not nearly consistent enough in his play, another red flag for NFL men.
 
Highlight of his college career
 
Finishing on a high in 2007, despite being ignored for the National Title, USC went on to thump Illinois at the Rose Bowl. Jackson's statistics for the 2007 season broke a lot of records, both at USC and the Pac 10, and elevated him to the level of past USC pass-rushers like Kenechi Udeze.
 
Other snippets

• His brother, Keith Jackson, was an OT at Arizona.

• Looks a much better athlete in the flesh than his game-tape would indicate.

• Loves Family Guy

• Compares very closely to another USC pass-rusher, Kenechi Udeze.

• Potential good fits: Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins.