From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Florida State defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr.

No. 6 DARRELL JACKSON JR/DL FLORIDA STATE– 6051, 328 POUNDS (REDSHIRT SENIOR)
MEASUREMENTS

Player
Ht/Wt
Hand Size
Arm Length
Wingspan

Darrell Jackson Jr.
6051/328
1100
3500
8600

40-Yard Dash
10-Yard Dash
Short Shuttle
3-Cone

N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Broad Jump
Vertical
Bench Press

N/A

THE GOOD

-Ideal size for an interior defensive lineman
-Strong at the point of attack
-Can take on multiple blockers
-Plus athleticism for his size
-Two-gaps well with a wide base
-Praised by teammates and coaches for leadership

THE BAD

-Limited repertoire of pass-rush moves
-A high pad level can cause him to lose leverage at times
-Inconsistent motor, can slow late in games
-Needs to improve tackling technique, clean up missed tackles
-Can struggle when he doesn’t make first contact
-Not always quick off the ball

STATS

Career: 129 total tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble
2025: 45 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack
Career snaps: 1,688 on defense
2025 snaps: 522 on defense
PFF: 64 total pressures, six quarterback hits, 16 missed tackles, 10.4% missed tackle rate

INJURY HISTORY

-No injury background. Missed the 2023 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but played in the Orange Bowl

BACKGROUND

-Will turn 23 years old on April 28
-3-star recruit out of Gadsden County High School in Havana, Florida
-Began career at Maryland before transferring to Miami ahead of sophomore year, where he started all 12 games. Transferred to Florida State before the 2023 season to help care for sick mother
-Earned first start in the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl with Maryland
-2024 and 2025 All-ACC honorable mention
-2025 Florida State Defensive MVP
-Bobby Bowden Leadership Award winner in 2024 and 2025
-Graduated in 2024 with a degree in social sciences
-High school teammates with New England Patriots DL and former Florida State teammate Joshua Farmer
-Standout in the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl and also participated in the 2026 Senior Bowl
-Defensive line coach in 2025 was former NFL DL Terrance Knighton

TAPE BREAKDOWN

The biggest thing that stands out when watching Jackson is his size. Combined with his strength, it allows him to have a strong anchor. Jackson does the dirty work inside often. He can take on two defenders and stand his ground in the gap.

His length also allows him to make plays on the ball carrier even while linemen are blocking him.

 

One of Jackson’s biggest concerns is that he can play too high, which is also a product of his size, and get driven out of his gap. Here, he gets taken for a ride, but winds up in a position to make a tackle. Unfortunately, he whiffs on it.

He needs to work on being more consistent and on his form tackling. Here’s another example of him having a chance to make a tackle for a loss but not bringing down the ball carrier.

But there’s a ton of potential for him to be one of the top run-stuffing interior defensive linemen. Here’s another example where he anchors, closes the hole, and prevents a touchdown.

There’s a lot of upside with him as a run defender, but he needs to improve his pass-rush. Too often, he relies on a straight bull rush. He must build more counters off his bull rush and develop a better array of pass-rush moves. However, his bull rush alone can still generate pressure.

He also struggles at times when he isn’t making the first contact with the offensive lineman. He loses a lot of his power and can be driven back in these instances.

But as a good run-stuffing defensive tackle does, his ability to control gaps allows his teammates to swarm and make plays.

CONCLUSION

Jackson has a lot of potential. Even with some limitations when it comes to tackling and pad level, he could be an immediate difference-maker stopping the run in his rookie season. There are questions about whether he’ll be able to handle 50+ snaps at the next level consistently and what he can provide as a pass rusher. Working with an NFL coaching staff could help him develop a better array of pass-rush moves and make him a bigger threat in that area. The bottom line, though, is that Jackson could be one of the best run defenders in this class.

On the low end, Jackson can be a better version of Raekwon Davis. If he reaches his potential, he could be closer to Jordan Davis.

NFL Projection: Mid-Day 2
Steelers Depot Grade: 8.3 (Long-time starter)
Grade Range: 7.5-8.7
Games Watched: vs Alabama (2025), at Georgia Tech (2024), vs Miami (2025), vs Pitt (2025)

 

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