Background

Darrell Jackson Jr. grew up in Havana, Florida, and attended Gadsden County High School, where he played defensive end, defensive tackle, and tight end, and helped the Jaguars reach the Class 4A state semifinal as a senior. A three-star recruit, he signed with Maryland and played all 13 games as a true freshman in 2021, recording 22 tackles, with his first career start coming in the Pinstripe Bowl against Virginia Tech. He transferred to Miami in 2022 and immediately started all 12 games, producing 27 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and 3.0 sacks. Then his mother Lisa, who lives in Quincy, Florida, roughly 25 miles from Tallahassee, developed a serious medical condition, and he transferred to Florida State to be closer to her. The NCAA denied his hardship waiver for immediate eligibility since he had already transferred once as an undergraduate, a decision that became a national controversy. Jackson sat out 2023 except for the Orange Bowl against Georgia under bowl eligibility rules. He started all 12 games in 2024, posting 32 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble, earning All-ACC Honorable Mention and FSU's Bobby Bowden Leadership Award. Then, he moved to nose tackle as a 2025 team captain and posted a career-high 45 tackles, earning Defensive MVP and a second Bobby Bowden Leadership Award. He graduated with a social science degree in Fall 2024, and across three programs and roughly 50 games accumulated 129 tackles, 12 TFL, and 7.5 sacks before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Physical Attributes

Darrell Jackson Jr. has a weird makeup for a DL. At the combine, he was 6'5.5" and weighed 315 lbs. I think his playing weight might be a bit more, but the point still stands. It's weird to say, but with his height, he almost looks skinny on the field. Not sure I am a fan of that in a DT. Looking skinny, he also acted skinny where he does not have much play strength. His lateral agility is okay, but as evidenced by his poor 26.5" vertical, he does not have much explosion in his game either.

Data and Tape Analysis

If you are unfamiliar with my DT radar charts, you can find more information here

I did not want to get into this in the physicals, but Darrell Jackson Jr. is an example of a DT being too tall. He cannot achieve a low enough position to leverage linemen properly, and he relies on trying to push them back by their shoulders, which is not that effective. Against the run, that means he is also really easy to move, as his high center of gravity is accessible to nearly anyone who wants to push him upfield. Jackson has no counter to being pushed upfield.

Really, the only good thing I have to say about him is that when a running back is near his nearly 35" arms, he makes the tackle. So if your major contribution is tackling people within your grasp, I guess it could be worse?

Grade and Outlook

Darrell Jackson Jr. does not do it for me at all. His height prevents him from getting proper leverage, and his capped athleticism means he only makes the plays that come to him. At least he does not actively hurt the team, and maybe someone can properly get him to use his size.

Grade: 2.8 (Late 6th Rounder / Early 7th Rounder)