Donovan Jackson is a four-year player (three year starter) expected to come pretty early off the draft board from Ohio State. Just how early? First round isn’t out of the question, though most mock drafts at this point have him slipping to somewhere in the second round.
Jackson started all 13 games for the Buckeyes in his sophomore and junior seasons, and while he can sometimes get beaten on the edge by elite pass rushers, he was a stalward on the offensive line throughout. He missed two games in his senior season, but it’s what he did that year that should most impress NFL scouts. He moved from his favored left guard position over to left tackle to replace the injured Josh Simmons, and he did so seamlessly enough that the offensive line didn’t suffer much as a whole. He was as strong as the rest of the line during the entire National Championship run, which should show NFL teams that his floor is somewhere as a solid starter for years to come, potentially at multiple offensive line positions.
Donovan Jackson, Left Guard
Draft Projection: Round 1-3
Pro Day Results (as reported by The Columbus Dispatch):
Bench press: 32 reps
Vertical jump: 32.5”
20-yard shuttle: 4.6 seconds
Broad jump: 8’1”
Jackson grades highly on the NFL’s measurables, and his game tape shows his strength and reliability. Should Buckeye fans expect to see him come off the board in the first round? Probably not. But it’s not impossible, and a high-to-mid second-round selection seems likeliest at this point. Some mock drafts do have him slipping into the third round, though the consensus at this point seems to be Round 2.
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