Guard Donovan Jackson is a Brick Wall in Cleats

Ohio State left guard Donovan Jackson is a powerful man.

He’s also one of the more challenging evaluations.

This is because he spent most of the season lining up at another spot other than his natural position.

Jackson is a guard through and through.

However, because Ohio State’s starting left tackle was injured, Jackson was thrust into being the team’s starting left tackle for the majority of the season.

How did he do?

Jackson did an admirable job, but he will not be cashing his checks in the NFL as a starting left tackle.

Can he play left tackle in an emergency?

Yes.

Jackson didn’t embarrass himself filling in because he’s one heck of a competitor. He held his own. He even limited Penn State’s Edge Abdul Carter to two sacks. I regard Carter as the best defensive prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

He doesn’t have the consistent foot technique needed to consistently succeed at left tackle at the next level.

But, don’t hold that against him because it’s the first time he played that position.

What did the game film and numbers show?

In pass protection, he looked difficult to get around and impossible to go through. He also put on a clinic as a devastating limited area run blocker.

What’s the 2024 breakdown?

Pro Football Focus

• 529 snaps at left tackle
• 286 snaps at left guard
• 422 pass blocking snaps
• 2 sacks
• 5 hits
• 12 hurries

That’s just the way it looked on film.

Jackson is nothing but pure, dense equally distributed muscle mass from head to toe. He draws a lot of power from his lower back and legs. When setting up in pass protection, this left guard does a good job using his long 33 1/2 arms to keep the big boys inside from getting into his body at the point of attack, while maintaining a nice, wide, well-balanced base.

In scouting, we call that an iron anchor.

It gives him the ability to hunker down and hold up against their brand of violence.

Jackson is a street fighter with authoritative brute strength.

Both of those traits come out whenever opportunity arises. It’s nothing for him to throw a defender to the ground like a ragdoll or better yet, pancake block and drive him into the ground like he’s trying to bury him alive.

Weaknesses?

Yes.

Jackson gives up pass protection blocking leverage (and gets turned to the side) when he guesses wrong pre-snap, which gap the defensive tackle is going to attack, and tries to get a head start.

It’s a bad habit he needs to break.

He’s also a hit-and-miss run blocker in space, out away from the line of scrimmage.

NFL projection

The more offensive players with a defensive mentality, the better.

While guards aren’t glamorous in the first round, those with the right traits are necessary.

I like the idea of the Ravens taking Jackson at No. 27.

#74 Donovan Jackson 6-foot-4, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Final NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 25.7% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 7, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film evaluated: Marshall, Michigan State, Iowa, Oregon, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic, physical, quick-twitch, prospect. Works well in concert with linemen in double-team blocks. Good initial quickness in pass pro and uses hands well. Too slow to unexpectedly redirect. Drops his weight well against bull rushers. High football IQ. Solid against stunts and blitzes. Inconsistent on screens. Plays until the whistle blows. Inconsistent run blocking. The further he gets away from the line of scrimmage, the less dependable he becomes do to tightness that shows up in space. Has to have it lined up. Understands the art of leverage. Super job clearing out lanes and turning defenders inside and outside from his spot. Good at drive blocking and pulling. Above average speed. Can overaggress and lose.

Final words

Jackson is a tone setter.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.