Keondre Jackson, SAF, Illinois State
Size:
Height: 6’1” (v) | Weight: 211 (v) lbs
Accomplishments:
All-MVFC Honorable Mention (2023)
“Keondre Jackson projects as a box safety whose length and downhill trigger should present the opportunity to challenge for snaps at the next level.”
Strengths:
Long strider
Spatial awareness
Length
Run defender
Ball skills
PHYSICAL
Concerns:
Plays high
Athletic profile
Change of direction
Hips
Film Analysis:
Keondre Jackson projects as a box safety whose length and downhill trigger should present the opportunity to challenge for snaps at the next level in a defense that prioritizes defenders who aren’t afraid to throw their weight around. With snaps at all three levels of the defense, Jackson’s alignment versatility will hold weight for teams in search of a multiphase contributor on a 53-man roster. Not a dynamic athlete, but has the trigger and length to put himself in spots to make plays on the football.
As a run defender, Jackson will be an asset inside the box. Excellent eyes, body control, trigger, and physicality to ID and flash through the line of scrimmage and into the backfield. He is also an advanced blitzer with an understanding of angles and one-on-one tackling. Will not be a player that has the athleticism to flip, run, and track down ball-carriers that escape out the backdoor, however. He is also one of the biggest hitters in the 2025 class. Jackson isn’t afraid to mix it up at the line of scrimmage and he is a player that has multiple instances on tape of taking defenders off their feet due to the pop behind his pads. He is a player that you can tell takes pride in punishing opponents over the middle of the field.
In coverage, Jackson is best as a Cover 2 safety who can limit his space to a confined portion of the field. Good when keeping things in front of him where his aforementioned trigger and length can show up at the catch point, but it is hard to imagine Jackson earning substantial snaps as a Cover 1 safety—like he did at Illinois State—at the NFL level due to the athletic thresholds that are currently vacant from his profile.
In man, Jackson does well to disrupt timing at the line of scrimmage but his technique wavers from rep to rep. Showcases a low and fluid backpedal, only to spring upward in a high, elongated process on the next rep where he can be beaten quickly off the snap. Will also grab if beaten.
Jackson’s profile intrigues as an athlete with good instincts on the back end. Powerful hands when battling pass-catchers in the air with the football IQ of where opponents tend to sit routes against zone. Had a nice week at the Hula Bowl in Orlando, ultimately earning the call-up to the Senior Bowl where he also had a nice week. His limitations once again showed in one-on-one coverage, but his trigger and ability as a box safety showcased a player who should absolutely hear his name called in April.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Role Specific Contributor
Written By: Ryan Fowler
Exposures: Senior Bowl (2025), Hula Bowl (2025), Iowa (2024), Southern Illinois (2024), Southeast Missouri State (2024)
