Prospect Profile: Donovan Jackson, iOL, Ohio State

Protecting the Passer

Jackson is an elite pass protector. He maintains efficient footwork whether in vertical, 45 or jump sets, he mirrors exceptionally well against all kinds of rusher inside. The only trouble you are likely to see him in, is on obvious passing downs when he has to vertical set and meet a Defensive Lineman coming at him on an angle from an alignment outside the OT. Even in this scenario, he’ll compete. With everything else he maintains a wide and balanced base and when he’s challenged with power, he drops a very effective anchor, he will sink his hips and reset his feet when challenged with elite power. He bends well and always plays with excellent play strength. He has great reactionary athleticism, he can stay square and maintain the half-man in most scenarios, he’s particularly good when rushers try to cross-face, even when they are explosive edge-rushers coming inside. He is an excellent processor, he sees stunts, games and pressure packages coming early and he won’t get fooled by an exotic pressure twice. His hand usage is outstanding. His two handed-strike is placed well and done with impeccable timing. He works with independent hands well too, he has good power and latch strength and it’s very hard to disengage from him. When pass-rushers do manage to get clean, he can re-fit his hands with little fuss and get back on top of the defender.

Run Blocking

On the move: He’s a good run blocker in Zone concepts. He’s good as the Drive man and the Post man on double teams, he can allow his teammate to get to the second level and get movement at the line of scrimmage when he’s overtaking blocks, but he’s also effective when releasing to the second level, with good timing. When at the second level, either from climbing there on a double team or when running Outside Zone, he positions really well, and can fit his hands effectively. He won’t consistently finish, his foot speed and hands get him in position to make a block functional but he will often only slow down the LB in pursuit, not end it altogether. As a reach blocker, he can position, fit and finish blocks on anyone in front of him or backside of the play, and can get movement upfield, he won’t finish consistently on defenders line up play-side.
Blocking the big dude across from him:When moving forwards for blocks in Gap concepts, he isn’t able to maintain his pad level or fit his hands quickly enough when in close quarters, significantly affecting his play strength and efficacy as a blocker. As a Down blocker he doesn’t roll his hips well on contact, he can position and fit well in this type of block as it usually requires a couple of steps to make it to the target of the block but he will allow Defensive Linemen to slip the block and make plays in his gap. On Drive blocks, he can either come out of his stance too low, which savvy DL can take advantage of, or his hands don’t shoot quickly enough when the defender is lined up close to him. In both instances he can give up quick penetration into the backfield. He’s effective as a puller, he works well in tandem with other OL when pulling, makes kick-out blocks functional and understands pursuit angles at the second level in order to disrupt the defense getting to the Back to make a play on the ball-carrier.

DRAFTED RAVEN COMP
Ben Grubbs

PRODUCTION
SR: 529 snaps at LT, 286 snaps at LG
JR: 825 snaps at LG
FR: 827 snaps at LG
INJURY HISTORY: SR: Hamstring injury in camp, missed first two games

RAVENS FIT
Expl. Athleticism 3
Ftbl Intelligence 5
Vrsatility 5
Grit 4
Scheme 4