Jayden Jackson
Oklahoma#91 overallDraft Movement
Up 6 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Jayden Jackson profiles as one of the most physically mature interior defensive linemen in the 2027 class, an Indianapolis-bred, IMG Academy-developed 322-pounder who has been a rotational fixture inside Oklahoma's front since his first SEC snap. NFL Draft Buzz pegs him as the No. 8 defensive lineman on its 2027 board with an 85.9 overall grade, while scouting service composites place him at No. 40.5 overall and 5th at the position. As a true freshman in 2024 he became just the fourth Oklahoma freshman to start a season opener on the defensive line, joining the lineage of Tommie Harris, and produced 30 tackles, 3.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks across 13 games (10 starts) en route to Freshman All-SEC, FWAA Freshman All-America and ESPN Freshman All-America honors. The 2025 sophomore campaign was uneven, slowed by a foot injury that cost him the Kent State game, but his Outland Trophy National Player of the Week showing against Auburn (5 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) flashed the disruptive ceiling. He plays with natural leverage for his frame, generates movement on double teams and showed at his testing weight that the lower body should age well inside. The plan still needs counters beyond the bull rush before he's a third-down option, but the run-defense floor is real. Projected as a Day 2 base-down interior defender with starter upside by year two in a scheme that values 1- or 3-technique two-gappers.
Strengths
- Natural pad-level winner against taller interior blockers
- Heavy hands stun on contact and create separation to locate the ball
- Anchors against power and two-gaps on early downs (Ole Miss, Alabama tape)
- Surprising lateral mobility for 322 pounds, flashed chase on the Auburn breakthrough
- Drives leg-drive movement on double teams instead of getting washed
- Tested 4.95 forty at his weight, confirming short-area burst seen on tape
- Auburn outing showed leverage, hand timing and pursuit aligning for 2.5 sacks/2.5 TFL
- Decorated freshman season (Freshman All-SEC, FWAA/ESPN Freshman All-America) shows immediate SEC readiness
Weaknesses
- Pass-rush plan lacks counters beyond initial bull rush
- stalls against anchored guards
- Hand placement widens on contact, letting savvy centers control his chest
- Conditioning visibly dipped in second halves, especially the Texas game
- Production hasn't matched snaps over two seasons, raising ceiling questions
- Finishes inconsistently in space, lets ball carriers slip through on reach attempts
- Foot injury cost him a 2025 game and may have lingered through the season
- Third-down role unclear until rush counters develop
NFL Comparison
D.J. Reader (run-stout 1-tech anchor with surprising quickness); Folorunso Fatukasi (early-down two-gap base); Jordan Davis (mass-and-leverage interior plugger with athletic flashes)
College Stats
2024 (FR): 13 G/10 GS, 30 tkl, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 PBU. 2025 (SO): 12 G/6 GS, 28 tkl, 5.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks; signature: Auburn 5 tkl/2.5 TFL/2.5 sacks; added TFL vs Alabama in CFP First Round.
Measurables
Awards & Honors
2024 Freshman All-SEC; 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America; 2024 ESPN Freshman All-America; 2024 On3 True Freshman All-America; 2025 Outland Trophy National Player of the Week (Sept 20 vs Auburn); NFL Draft Buzz 2027 No. 8 DL (85.9 grade); composite avg position rank 5.