Jackson is a player GM Jr. did not expect much from because of his lack of size, but every time we looked up, he was making tackles. He has good instincts, has shown a knack for being right in the middle of the play and makes some hard, physical tackles. For a smaller linebacker, he moves through traffic with ease, avoids blocks surprisingly well and keeps blockers off himself well. He has good playing speed and chases down plays in pursuit consistently. When he gets near the ball carrier, he has a good closing burst to finish plays. His quick feet and athleticism enable him to drop off the ball into coverage and react to the ball quickly. He has the hands to make the tough interception. Despite not being an explosive player, he gets through the line of scrimmage well and has a knack for pressuring the quarterback. He does not hesitate to make the big hit on the quarterback right after the pass is thrown. Overall, Jackson is the small, athletic linebacker who typically gets overlooked, but with his toughness, instincts, competitiveness and surprising strength, he is going to be a productive middle/inside linebacker in the NFL. He will not be a star, but he will make a lot of tackles and impact plays -- especially against the run.

Jackson is a good athlete who consistently is around the ball and makes a lot of tackles. He slips and slides in traffic well to avoid blocks, bends his knees, sinks his hips and makes good, hard tackles. He uses his hands very well to keep blockers from getting a hold of him. He times his blitzes well, and has a knack for getting through the line of scrimmage and making hard hits on the quarterback. He covers tight ends well on short routes and does a good job of making the tackle right after the catch on screen passes.

Obviously, Jackson is undersized for a linebacker; it definitely will hinder his ability to get free from NFL offensive linemen consistently. He has a bad habit of stepping up on play-action passes and lets the tight end get behind him. He lacks the playing speed to stay with tight ends down the field on seam routes and doesn't have the burst to catch up once he loses a step. He does not protect his legs consistently and can be cut to the ground.

Jackson is an athletic linebacker who has excelled despite his lack of size because of his athleticism, toughness, competitiveness and instincts. His quick feet combine with his agility to help him change directions quickly. He accelerates to full speed fast in the other direction, and he has the speed to chase down plays in pursuit. His flexibility helps him bend his knees, sink his hips and make hard physical hits/tackles. His combination of quick feet, agility and balance help him to move through traffic easily. He can avoid blockers very well out in space. He has good playing speed to chase down ball carriers in pursuit, but lacks premier/top-level speed. Overall, Jackson is a good all-around athlete who is consistently around the ball and making tackles.

Jackson is a very tough inside linebacker who consistently has shown a willingness to step up and take on lead blockers strong and aggressive at the point of attack. On the most important plays, he has consistently shown a knack for stepping up and making the big play with hard hits/tackles against the run and interceptions in pass defense. He was a consistently productive linebacker whose quick reads, athleticism and competitiveness enabled him to be around the ball on a regular basis. He hustles and chases from snap to whistle, and when he gets close to the ball carrier, he has a good closing burst to the ball. Despite not being an explosive blitzer, Jackson consistently has shown the ability to get through the line of scrimmage to pressure the quarterback. He is a hard-nosed linebacker who definitely has shown a willingness to sacrifice himself to slow up plays so that teammates can make tackles. He nevers quits on a play and consistently fights and competes to make the tackle until the ball carrier is down.

Jackson is a smart football player who consistently uses good technique against blockers and as a tackler. Clearly, he has learned well and been able to retain information. He generally has very good instincts, and reads and reacts to the play quickly, but occasionally he bites hard on play-action passes and steps up and lets the tight end get behind him. He plays with a high level of concentration on every snap and never quits hustling and fighting to get to the ball.

Clearly, Jackson is undersized for a linebacker. While he will not get any taller, he needs to bulk up and add some weight. Despite having been a durable linebacker at Maryland, his lack of size is a concern in terms of his ability to stay healthy in the NFL. He is not a truly explosive player, but when he gets close to the ball carrier, he has a good closing burst to the quarterback. Despite lacking bulk/weight, Jackson is shockingy strong for his size. He consistently has shown the ability to stand up pulling offensive linemen at the point of attack, hold his ground, shed and make tackles. Additionally, he is a strong and physical tackler.