2018 NFL Draft: JC Jackson Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Maryland’s JC Jackson is a nice sized 2018 NFL Draft cornerback prospect.
JC Jackson features good size and overall bulk for the cornerback position. This size gives him an advantage over the smaller 2018 NFL Draft cornerback prospects who will need to adjust to the bigger NFL receivers.
Jackson’s size gives him the ability to attack the ball at its highest point and fight through contact. However, he needs to do a better job locating the football and timing his jumps.
He isn’t only a size defender as he also has good overall speed and short-area burst. Jackson does a good job remaining balanced to click and close on the ball. That short-area burst helps him close and limit the damage.
Jackson flashes quick hips and the ability to quickly get his head turned around. However, his ability to hold up in man coverage is hindered by his busy hands. Jackson makes too much contact down the field and will be flagged for either holding or interference often.
His struggles in man coverage may limit his fit at the next level. It will take some time for him to learn to keep his hands off the target.
There’s a chance due to his size and ability to click and close that Jackson could move to safety. However, he will need to become a more consistent tackler to make that transition. Jackson will get involved in the run game but his overall effort is inconsistent.
He tends to flash big hits but also allow himself to get blocked too often.
Overall, Jackson has the athletic profile to succeed in the NFL. He flashes the quick hips and awareness needed to hold up in man coverage. However, his tendency to make contact with the receiver is a major issue.