*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Some Sources Think USC LT Austin Jackson is a First-Round Pick
Updated Oct. 15, 2019By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
USC left tackle Austin Jackson as become a hot prospect this season, with a big buzz about him in the scouting community. In speaking to some team sources, they believe Jackson will be a first-round pick and he could be a riser throughout the draft process. Staff with pro teams are also saying Jackson will skip his senior year to enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
Evaluators say the 6-foot-6, 305-pounder is a great athlete with quick feet and excellent agility. He is an easy mover who displays the ability to bend at the knee and plays with good leverage. There are times when Jackson gets away with some mistakes because he is so athletic, and he will need to work on technique for the NFL. He is raw from a fundamentals standpoint, but his skill set is that of a franchise left tackle.
Team sources say that Jackson is a good kid who will interview well in the leadup to the draft, plus will work out well because of his excellent skill set. Earlier this year, Jackson took a leave from the Trojans program in order to donate bone morrow to his younger sister, and he has played extremely well since coming back to the team.
Numerous scouts have told me they think the 2020 NFL Draft is going to feature a strong offensive line class, which has many evaluators excited after some lean years in the middle portion of this decade. They feel there could be some players who rise throughout the process, and they expect Jackson to be one of those prospects who has his name called on the opening night of the 2020 NFL Draft.
