Looks like a perfect guy for the zone blocking scheme.
Strengths: He's a shifty back with excellent balance and body control. Displays the ability to stop and start with great ease. Shows good vision and possesses the initial burst to quickly hit the crease he sees developing. Runs with outstanding pad-level and always seems to be under control. He is a slippery runner that doesn't seem to take a lot of big hits and elusive enough to consistently make defenders miss one-on-one in space. He shows good toughness as an inside runner and will keep his legs driving after contact. Also displays enough burst to consistently turn the corner as an outside runner. He lacks elite speed but he does have a second-gear in the open-field and can beat some defensive backs in a foot race. He's a reliable underneath receiver and he's shifty and dangerous after the catch. He has been durable and he doesn't have much mileage on his legs.
Weaknesses: Lacks ideal game experience and is a bit unproven. Has looked extremely promising in spurts but he has never proven capable of carrying a full load as the premier back. He still needs to get a bit bigger and stronger. He runs hard and shows some power but he's not the type that will run over defenders or push the pile much in short-yardage situations. He possesses adequate-to-good speed, but does not show elite second-gear in the open-field. He has room to improve as a route runner. While he has been reliable catching the ball, he has a tendency to let it get into his pads and needs to learn to catch with his hands far more frequently. Needs to improve his technique and awareness in pass pro. Also has had some fumbling issues in the past.
Overall: Jackson saw action in 10 of 11 games as a true freshman in 2004 and carried 85 times for 390 yards (4.6 average) with six touchdowns. In 2005, he played in nine of 12 contests (two starts; Wake Forest, Pitt) and gained just 52 yards on 18 carries (2.9 average). Jackson then started nine of 14 games in 2006, rushed 188 times for 989 yards (5.3 average) and eight touchdowns, adding 33 receptions for 313 yards and two more scores. Over the past three seasons, he also returned 32 kickoffs for 579 yards (18.1 average).
Jackson's biggest weakness is his lack of experience. He will need to improve his bulk and strength in order to hold up as a premier back in the NFL, and he also lacks elite top-end speed. However, Jackson is an instinctive, shifty and tough runner with the size-potential to emerge as a good starter in a zone-blocking scheme. In our opinion, Jackson is one of the more underrated prospects in the 2007 class and he could become a steal from the second-or-third round range of the 2007 draft.
