Tyson Jackson, DE

Jackson's decision to return to school for his senior season in 2008 seems to have paid off.

With more NFL teams expected to convert to a 3-4 defensive alignment in 2009, Jackson has the frame, strength and run-stuffing ability to fit the mold of the type of defensive end used in that system. In a classic 4-3 setup, most scouts felt he would be better suited playing inside at defensive tackle.

A three-year starter at left defensive end, Jackson proved to be a capable, yet unspectacular pass rusher, managing just eight quarterback sacks over his last two seasons -- compared to 8.5 as a sophomore. His forte was flushing the quarterback out of the pocket, as he boasts 30 pressures for his career, along with his run-containment skills, ranking 11th in school history with 27 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Jackson was regarded as the best defensive end in the state of Louisiana during his senior season at West St. John High School. The two-way lineman was named Class 2A Defensive Player of the Year after capping off a torrid senior season with 84 tackles, 16 sacks and 17 pressures, leading his team to the state championship.

Jackson was a member of the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen and the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Top 20 Blue-Chip list in 2003. He was named All-District and All-Parish on the gridiron and also lettered in basketball.

After spending the 2004 season on Louisiana State's scout team, Jackson earned Freshman All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2005. He alternated between defensive end positions as the team's top reserve, posting 13 tackles (eight solo) with a pair of sacks and five quarterback pressures.

Jackson was named All-Southeastern Conference second-team as a sophomore, after he wrested away the starting left defensive end position. He collected 8.5 sacks with 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 37 tackles (13 solo). He also picked off a pass and deflected four others.

As a junior, he continued to excel as a disruptor for the opposing aerial attack, as his 10 pass deflections ranked second in the nation among down linemen. He again lined up at left end, posting 36 tackles (15 solo) to go with 3.5 sacks and ranked second on the squad with 12 pressures.

Jackson was selected to the All-SEC second-team in 2008. He started all season at left end, coming up with 36 tackles (17 solo) for the second straight year. He had 4.5 sacks, 10.5 stops for losses and seven pressures. He rumbled 18 yards with a fumble recovery and blocked four pass attempts at the line of scrimmage.

Positives: Versatile defender who operated as an end in LSU's base 4-3 alignment, but could also be moved inside as a 4-3 under (3-technique) tackle or as an end in the 3-4 alignment. Good team defender. Understands his containment responsibilities. Excellent size and strength to stack at the point of attack. Flashes the ability to shed blocks and make the play. Good initial quickness off the snap. Can pressure the tackle's outside shoulder and has the strength to push the blocker into the pocket toward the quarterback or use his hands to rip off the block. Gets his hands up in the passing lane. Good lateral quickness and hand technique to disengage from blocks and make the play as opportunities present themselves. Hustles to chase ballcarriers downfield.

Negatives: Bit of a 'tweener for 4-3 teams. Lacks a great burst upfield, closing speed or repertoire of pass rush moves to ever be a dynamic outside pass rusher. Marginal speed to close. Does not change direction quickly in the backfield to prevent quarterbacks stepping up or getting yards with their feet.

Compares To: MARCUS SPEARS, Dallas -- Jackson shows flashes of brilliance but you can see an overall lack of consistency in his game. He is probably a better fit as a defensive tackle, where his adequate burst and change-of-direction agility will not be exposed as they would on the edge. That versatility will likely make him more inviting to a team that will utilize a 3-4 alignment.

GENERAL REPORT

GRADE: 5.92

Body Structure: Jackson is tall and rangy with a high-waist and adequate muscle definition. He has long legs and arms, but a lack of speed and explosion makes him suspect as a 4-3 defensive end. However, he could add more weight to his frame and shift inside to tackle.

Athletic Ability: Jackson has adequate quickness and footwork, showing balance and decent acceleration attacking the backfield. He is more of a run containment defensive end with adequate speed and change-of-direction agility to be much of a pass rusher. He has 18.5 career sacks, but 8.5 came as a sophomore. He might be better off bulking up and shifting to tackle at the pro level. He has the frame to put on the additional weight and with his impressive height, he could be a problem for quarterbacks trying to fire the ball at the line of scrimmage, as he uses his solid high school basketball skills to leap and deflect passes (ranked second in the nation among down linemen with 10 PBUs as a junior and had 18 for his career). He does a good job of maintaining position at the point of attack and knows how to use his hands in order to gain separation. GRADE: 6.4

Football Sense: Jackson needs more than a few reps to retain plays, but should be able to handle the mental aspect of playing on the defensive line in the NFL. He is a functional read-and-react type who does a decent job sifting through traffic. There are questions about why he's shown great effort one moment and then shut down his motor the next; needs to show better awareness to double teams. GRADE: 5.4

Character: Jackson is well-liked by his teammates and coaching staff, and was considered one of the team's prime locker room leaders. He commands respect on the field for his ability and is the type of player you never have to worry about getting into trouble. He is involved in community affairs and has been responsible and respectful. GRADE: 6.2

Competitiveness: Jackson has an up-and-down motor. When he decides to play at full speed, he makes it difficult for the offensive linemen to block him, as he can pressure the outside shoulder of an offensive tackle and generate the strength and hand punch to drive his man back into the pocket. He shows decent urgency in his play, but will shut down for small stretches. He does what is asked in the weight room and is always on time for practices or meetings. GRADE: 5.8

Work Habits: Jackson is a big-framed player and if he adds bulk, could be an effective tackle in a 4-3 defensive alignment. He has adequate explosion off the ball, but for a player his size, he does not demonstrate the brute strength needed to defeat blocks when meeting the offensive tackle head-on. His reported weight-room numbers are nothing to get you excited. GRADE: 5.8

ATHLETIC REPORT

GRADE: 6.18

Explosion/Pursuit: Jackson has some rush quickness, but lacks the sudden initial step displayed as a sophomore. He has quick hands, but is inconsistent in executing his punch to shock and jolt. He will generally reside along the line of scrimmage and is not the type to get much penetration or pressure the quarterback. For a player his size, he does not get great leverage off the snap. He does get good separation, thanks to his size and long arms, but has to be more consistent playing square in the trenches and use his effective crossover and up-and-under moves with more regularity. He can hold his ground firmly at the point of attack, but is slow to shed. GRADE: 5.7

Strength at Point: Jackson needs to play lower in his pads and play with more leverage in order to be effective. He lacks the natural brute strength to hold ground at the point of attack, but when he keeps his pads down and utilizes his hands, he can stack and control. He is much more effective in run containment then when trying to push the pocket, despite 30 pressures and 18.5 sacks for his career. When he gets too high in his pads, he fails to split or stack vs. double teams and can lose leverage. When he does not keep his hands in front, he gets tied up too often as he does not properly extend his arms to keep blockers off his body. GRADE: 5.7

Use of Hands: Jackson needs to learn better hand technique, as he does an adequate job of protecting his feet, disengaging, shedding, locking out and working the two-gap. He has quick hands, showing good cross-face action, but will expose his body and does not always keep blockers away. He has the strength to throw and jerk down a blocker, but must be more active with his hands to gain success. With his long arms, big hands and wide base, he should be much mire effective shedding blocks than he has been. What he does excel in is using that long reach to high point the ball, delivering a great amount of pass break-ups at the line of scrimmage. GRADE: 6.3

Lateral Pursuit/Effort: Jackson has adequate lateral agility and change-of-direction skills. He has the short-area speed to chase the ball, but does not make a lot of plays from behind or across the field. When his motor is functioning properly, he flashes a burst to close. He is good at diagnosing plays, but does not seem to have the range to make plays away from the line. GRADE: 5.6

Tackling Ability: Jackson has the size and strength to have success locking up and has enough power behind his hand punch to punish. When he squares his shoulders and stays low in his pads, he does a good job of getting to the ball playing off cut blocks. His best asset could be his long arms he uses effectively to wrap up. Will miss tackles working in space. He hits, wraps and grabs with effectiveness, but looks a little lead-footed when having to work down the line to make the play. GRADE: 6.4

Run Defense: When he stays low in his pads, Jackson maintains position and defeats blocks one-on-one. When he gets too high in his stance, his lack of hand usage allows tackles to get into his body and wash Jackson out. He is best vs. plays in front of him, as he tends to grab at ballcarriers when they get by his side. GRADE: 6.9

Pass Rush: Jackson regressed as a pass rusher the last two years, failing to come close to matching his impressive 2006 numbers. He lacks that sudden first step, but does have very good club, rip and bull rush moves to finish. He shows better tricks when stunting inside, where he will be a better fit. As a pass rusher, he has an effective swim move and can get some pressure on the quarterback. He needs to show better explosion when trying to fire off the edge to flush the quarterback out. He appears more comfortable working in-line than when having to come off the edge. As a defensive tackle, he can make better use of his long arms better to get a push and gain leverage off the offensive guard. GRADE: 6.5

Closing on the QB: When Jackson chases flat down the line, he shows good ability to close. He has a few pass rush moves to penetrate, but looks more comfortable in run containment than flushing out the passer. He is not consistent, but has the functional speed to close the deal on the quarterback coming off the twist or if he frees himself up on the pass rush. GRADE: 6.4

Instincts/Recognition: For a player with his size and long arms, Jackson stays blocked too long. He is only adequate to react and find the ball when having to redirect down the line, as he prefers to let the play absorb into him. He does not have the explosion needed to get off the ball quick enough, but in plays directed at him, he sees the ball quick enough to react, wrap and secure, as he has a good feel for block pressure. GRADE: 6.1

Compares To: MARCUS SPEARS, Dallas -- Jackson shows flashes of brilliance but you can see an overall lack of consistency in his game. He is probably a better fit as a defensive tackle, where his adequate burst and change-of-direction agility will not be exposed as they would on the edge. That versatility will likely make him more inviting to a team that will utilize a 3-4 alignment.

OVERALL GRADE: 6.14

--Report by Dave-Te Thomas

Jackson started 38-of-53 games at Louisiana State, recording 122 tackles (53 solo) with 18 pass deflections, one interception, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries … Ranks eighth in school history with 18.5 sacks for minus-92 yards and placed 11th with 27 stops for losses totaling 109 yards … Also had 30 quarterback pressures.

Jackson earned All-Southeastern Conference second-team honors for the second time as a Tiger … The left defensive end recorded 36 tackles (17 solo) that included 4.5 sacks for minus-27 yards, 10.5 stops for losses of 37 yards and seven quarterback pressures, as the front wall allowed only 110.15 yards per game rushing, ranking 17th in the nation in that category … Recovered a fumble that he advanced 18 yards and deflected four passes … On 33 plays vs. the run, the opposition gained only 57 yards (1.73 yards per carry) with three touchdowns over Jackson's area … Made 13 stops on third-down plays, including eight vs. the running game, adding five more hits on fourth down … The opposition completed 8-of-20 passes into his area for 58 yards (2.9 yards per pass attempt).

Appalachian State … Jackson had a quiet season opener, making only one tackle, but it stopped QB Armanti Edwards for a 1-yard loss near midfield … Head to Head Competition-OT#72-Jonathan Bieschke (6:05-277).

North Texas … The left end was limited to two tackles, but also pressured QB Giovannji Vizza into throwing an incomplete pass in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition-OT#77-Esteban Santiago (6:03-288).

Auburn … Jackson finally got on track, delivering four tackles and four pressures … He chased down QB Chris Todd for a 1-yard loss on a first-quarter bootleg and assisted in sacking Todd for an 8-yard loss on a third-&-17 snap to force an Auburn punt at the start of the second half … Head to Head Competition-OT#50-Ryan Pugh (6:04-284).

Mississippi State … Jackson registered five tackles that included a pair of third-down stops and another on fourth down, as he also added a pressure … Head to Head Competition-OT#55-Quinton Saulsbury (6:03-293).

Florida … The left defensive end made three solo tackles, twice sacking QB Tim Tebow for a total of 9 yards in losses … He scooped up a fumble by Tebow after taking the QB down for a 3-yard loss, advancing the ball 18 yards to the Gators 31 early in the fourth quarter … On the next series, he forced Florida to settle for a 25-yard field goal after sacking Tebow for minus 6 yards on a third-&-goal snap … Head to Head Competition-OT#77-Jason Watkins (6:06-298).

South Carolina … Jackson managed three solo tackles, as he sacked QB Stephen Garcia for an 8-yard loss on a third-&-10 snap during the game-opening possession, forcing the Gamecocks to punt … Later in the first frame, Garcia was again sacked by the left end for minus 6 yards … Head to Head Competition-OT#78-Justin Sorenson (6:07-327).

Troy … Jackson had only one assisted tackle, but he batted down two pass attempts at the line of scrimmage, including one on a second-&-goal toss by QB Levi Brown at the LSU 5 early in the second quarter … Head to Head Competition-OT#74-Dion Small (6:02-311).

Mississippi … The senior defensive end registered four tackles, including one that took down receiver Dee McCluster for a 2-yard loss on a third-&-19 reverse, forcing Ole Miss to punt with 1:25 left in the first half … Head to Head Competition-OT#77-John Jerry (6:05-350).

Georgia Tech (Chick-fil-A Bowl) … Jackson closed out his career with just two solo tackles, but one stopped QB Josh Nesbitt for a 3-yard loss on a bootleg at the Tech 17 in the second quarter and the other took down running back Jon Dwyer behind the line of scrimmage on a third-&-4 snap near midfield in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition-OT#73-Austin Barrick (6:03-254).

Started 13 of 14 games at left defensive end, coming off the bench in the season opener vs. Mississippi Starte … Recorded 36 tackles (15 solo) with 3.5 sacks for minus-20 yards, 4.5 stops for losses of 23 yards and 12 QB pressures … Caused a fumble and ranked second among the nation's down linemen with 10 pass breakups.

Broke up two passes while adding a pressure, a 5-yard sack and two tackles in the South Carolina clash … Posted four tackles with a pair of pressures vs. Florida … Was in on a career-high eight tackles (five solo), assisting on a stop for a loss vs. Kentucky … Was in on four tackles while breaking up two passes vs. Auburn … Followed with three deflected passes and three solo tackles, as he sacked QB John Parker Wilson twice for minus-11 yards vs. Alabama … Added three solo hits and a trio of pressures vs. Arkansas … Had just a solo tackle, but it was a nine-yard sack of QB Todd Boeckman, causing a fumble in a 38-24 win over Ohio State that gave the Tigers the national championship.

All-SEC second-team choice, as he took over left defensive end duties, starting all but the Mississippi game … Recorded a career-high 37 tackles (13 solos) … Added a career-high 8.5 sacks for minus-39 yards, six pressures and 10.5 stops for losses of 43 yards … Caused and recovered a fumble … Broke up four passes and had his first career interception.

Named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week vs. Alabama, as he recorded four tackles, a sack and broke up two passes … Registered a season-high six tackles twice -- vs. Auburn and again vs. Louisiana-Lafayette … Had the first interception of his career in the Tigers' win over Kentucky … Against Tulane, he made two tackles, including one for a loss, and a sack, as he was also credited with a forced fumble, a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup vs. the Green Wave.

Earned a spot on the Freshman All-SEC team as voted on by the league's coaches and The Sporting News after recording 13 tackles (8 solo) and two sacks for minus-6 yards, adding five quarterback pressures.

Redshirted as a freshman.

2007: Left the Florida contest (10/06) briefly after a helmet-to-helmet collision.

Campus: 4.94 in the 40-yard dash … 1.68 10-yard dash … 2.79 20-yard dash … 4.80 20-yard shuttle … 7.64 three-cone drill … 28.5-inch vertical jump … 8'6" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times … 32 7/8-inch arm length … 9 3/4-inch hands.

Attended West St. John (Edgard, La.) High School, playing football for head coach Larry Dupont … Teammate of present LSU fullback, Quinn Johnson … Regarded as the best defensive end in the state of Louisiana during his senior season … The two-way lineman was named Class 2A Defensive Player of the Year after capping off a torrid senior season with 84 tackles, 16 sacks and 17 pressures on the way to leading his team to the state championship … Member of the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen and the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Top 20 Blue-Chip list in 2003 … Named All-District and All-Parish on the gridiron and also lettered in basketball.

Communication Studies major … Born Anthony Tyson Jackson on 6/06/86 in New Orleans, Louisiana … Resides in Edgard, Louisiana.