Donovan Jackson, IOL, Ohio State

Size: 

Height: 6’4” | Weight: 320 lbs

Accomplishments: 

First-Team All-Big Ten (2023, 2022) • Five-star recruit

“Donovan Jackson is a top-flight interior offensive lineman with elite football IQ, scheme versatility, and the tools to do every job asked of him.”

Strengths:

• Football IQ

• Efficient/effective pulling

• Athlete

• Length

Concerns:

• Top-heavy lunges

• Footwork while attached

Film Analysis: 

Donovan Jackson was one of the best players in the 2021 recruiting class and the best interior prospect. While piling up accolades in high school, he was an All-American and five-star recruit, the highest-ranked offensive lineman in Ohio State’s recruiting class. Jackson has played in all 39 games he’s been available for while starting 26 straight games at left guard for the Buckeyes, showing a true “Iron Man” mentality in his young career.

Finding his name on the ‘Outland Award Watch List’ for 2024, Jackson has one of the best all-around talent pools in the 2025 draft class. With a true NFL frame standing at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Jackson has superior length and movement to match. He’s looking to put a stamp on his collegiate career and be one of, if not the first offensive lineman drafted in 2025.

Jackson’s first step is explosive and intends to dislodge defenders with vertical or lateral movement. He quickly gets through doubles, knocking defensive linemen to help blockers and climbing to the second level to give running backs clear rush paths. He’s a violent player with pop in his hands and is paired with his length to knock back defenders and keep them in front of him. He’s a scheme-versatile run blocker who displays elite pulling technique and efficiency with no wasted movement and quickly gets down the line or out in space. He’s an intentional blocker who works his head to the play side when he can but also adjusts his blocks for the best possible outcome, showcasing his football IQ. His ability to alter his blocks to create lanes based on the defenders is elite.

As a pass protector, he can jump and vertically set without problems. Jackson has adequate hand carriage and quick strikes, correctly mirroring and mixing up his strikes between two hands and single jabs. He could use a little extra sand in the pants to dig deep and re-anchor, but he consistently redistributes power and takes over bull-rushing defenders. When beaten, he has lightning-quick reflexes to relocate his hands and push the rusher over or out of the way of the quarterback, buying a little more time to get the ball away.

Jackson’s most significant area of improvement comes with being top-heavy in run and pass blocking. He tends to lunge at defenders, occasionally lowering his head and giving them the upper hand to pull him through or take the outside gaps to the ball-carrier. The push-pull shows up against Jackson, who tends to be top-heavy, and defenders can quickly beat him as a pass rusher during those times. Keeping his feet underneath him while attached will improve his gap protection.

Jackson has a few consistency areas to clean up. Still, he’s easily one of the best offensive linemen in the country, and his blend of athleticism, size, and length will make him a challenging task for any defensive lineman.

Prospect Projection: Day 1 — Pro Bowl Caliber

Written By: Daniel Harms

Exposures: Michigan (2023), Penn State (2023), Missouri (2023), Notre Dame (2023)

Donovan Jackson NFL Draft Scouting Report