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McKinnley Jackson, IDL, Texas A&M (Senior)

Picture of Rayane M

Rayane M

Back for the 2024 NFL Draft edition, The Trick Play team is once again offering to immerse you in the heart of the event through the scouting reports of Rayane and Valentin. Who will become the next gem of the pro world and who, on the contrary, risks a spectacular flop?
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Strengths :

    • Really powerful
    • Nice swim move
    • Good punch
    • Strong initial impact
    • Explosiveness

     

    Weaknesses :

    • Undersized for the position
    • Imbalance
    • Average mobility

    TTProfil

     
    Let's be clear about McKinnley Jackson: you will not get a superstar or a game-changer with him, and that's fine because that's simply not his role. Contrary to what his size might suggest, McKinnley is a pure Nose Tackle.

    Jackson is a player who appears powerful both in his upper body, where he has no trouble engaging with offensive linemen to disengage, and in his lower body, as he effectively contends with double teams without being pushed back. This is a positive aspect, given the style of player he seems to be.

    From a power perspective, McKinnley has an impressive punch, which he readily uses to halt the advance of an offensive lineman trying to engage him. It's unfortunate that his reach is average because this limits his punch from definitively keeping opposing blockers at bay.
    Thanks to his strong punching power, Jackson commands respect from offensive linemen, inducing them to make mistakes in their attempts to contain him. For instance, he demonstrates effective swim moves when facing offensive linemen who lunge forward on running plays.

    You might ask, "But why do offensive linemen lunge forward?" It's largely due to McKinnley Jackson's explosiveness on his takeoff. Jackson seldom loses the initial impact battle. While no player will win 100% of reps, McKinnley's explosiveness out of his stance is noteworthy. He is very good at reaching the point of impact first, a significant advantage in the trenches. This forces offensive linemen to lunge forward to counter him, and when linemen lunge, they lose balance, putting themselves at a greater disadvantage.

    Continuing with his explosiveness, it's not only evident in his takeoff but also in his overall style of play. Jackson is generally very explosive, not just at the start but also in various other situations. He often poses real challenges for the offensive line, and whether in 1v1 or 2v1 situations, McKinnley is troublesome to contend with. This type of player is precisely who opponents don't want to face because they know the match will be tough, requiring them to manage him from start to finish.
     
    Now, turning to his weaknesses, we must address his size. McKinnley is quite small for his position, and it remains to be seen how this will affect his performance at the professional level. However, for now, his shorter stature helps him stay low, thus benefiting from additional strength through a good pad level.

    Another issue stemming from his size is McKinnley's tendency to play off-balance. Care must be taken not to overly rely on leveraging his weight to push back opponents because, while he often appears dominant in 1-on-1 situations, it's not uncommon to see him lose balance completely when an additional offensive lineman gives him even a slight push to the side in scenarios where he bets everything on his weight and sheer power.

    While Jackson is very explosive and consistently seeks to make an impact on the game, he suffers from limited mobility due to his relatively average top speed. Additionally, his smaller size doesn't help cover much ground, resulting in difficulties when he needs to chase a ball carrier on outside runs. Despite his willingness, this lack of speed prevents him from making the flashy plays that are so appealing to media and scouts, which can often create significant hype on their own.
    Indeed, Jackson's limited speed affects his ability to effectively rush the opposing quarterback, particularly on plays that extend longer than usual. Even with his quick initial penetration, quarterbacks, even those with moderate mobility, can often evade him due to his lack of speed. However, playing alongside Jackson on the defensive line can be beneficial for edge rushers. He frequently forces quarterbacks out of the pocket, allowing edge rushers to focus solely on pressuring the quarterback without worrying about the tackle.
     
    If McKinnley Jackson is indeed an undersized DT, he compensates for this lack of size with absolutely terrifying explosiveness. It's literally Jackson's number one strength, his game is completely based on his explosiveness and it shows on every single play.
    Whether in pass rush situations or stopping the run, it's through his explosiveness that McKinley manages to make an impact. The explosiveness of his lower body allows him to generate significant power and often disrupt the offensive line barely after the snap, while the explosiveness of his upper body enables him to deliver a strong punch that shocks and surprises offensive linemen, aiding in his ability to read the play.
     
    That being said, McKinnley still lacks a lot of technique and remains a raw player who will require significant technical development to truly become dominant in the NFL. Additionally, his physique might raise concerns and limit his ability to play in all systems. Regarding his usage, I believe he could be very useful as a 1-technique Nose Tackle in a 4-3 front. His ability to absorb double teams without giving ground and without losing his gap responsibility is very impressive for his size and could allow him to have a role from his rookie year. However, in terms of his pass rush, there will be work to be done if he wants to secure a starting position in any system. He doesn't utilize technique often enough, despite having a decent repertoire.
     
    For all these reasons, I see McKinnley Jackson as a good candidate for a selection in the early stages of the third day of the draft. He would be taken at the right time without having to handle too much pressure and could work calmly on his development during his early seasons.
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