Overview
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 189 lbs.
School: Houston Cougars
Combine Performance Data
Bench Press: 10 reps
Broad Jump: 116.0 inches
40 yard dash: 4.37 sec
William Jackson III 2016 NFL Draft Profile
Jackson is another feel good story about a young man who started at a JUCO, Trinity Valley Junior College, and goes on to lead a successful collegiate career at a Division I school. Jackson got that chance in 2013 when he transferred to the University of Houston and was a starter by the end of his first season with the Cougars. He was named American Athletic Conference second team pick in both his junior and senior years. During his senior year, he did aggravate a sprained MCL injury from the previous year while leading the nation in passes defended, with five interceptions and 23 pass breakups.
Strengths
- good height and weight.
- able to keep himself low when backpedaling.
- can recover well when receivers initially get separation.
- his ball skills are highly valued by coaches at the next level.
- less than half of all passes thrown his way were completed over past two years.
- possesses good instincts diagnoses receivers tendencies well.
- demonstrated playmaking ability on defense by scoring two defensive touchdowns in 2015.
Weaknesses
- bigger receivers might be able to overpower him in press coverage.
- has a tendency to play too upright.
- too willing to run around block in support against screens.
- has been seen to get knocked off balance at top of routes in some instances.
- can panic when beaten over the top, resulting in interference penalties.
Draft Projection: Late first or early second round
NFL Comparison: Phillip Gaines, Chiefs
Teams with need at position: Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers
Bottom Line
Jackson is a versatile defensive back with size and speed. Though he possesses all the necessary traits for the position, the league is developing two kinds of wide receivers: small and fast or big and strong. Being able to handle both effectively may take Jackson a year or two to develop into the starting defensive back he has the potential to be. Whether it’s in the late first round or early second, Jackson will do a good job representing coach Tom Herman and the Coog Nation.
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