It's been tough sledding for the Florida State Seminoles since upsetting Alabama in Week 1. They've won just two conference games, falling short against every tough conference opponent on the schedule. Head coach Mike Norvell is under fire, the program is in flux, and Florida State has underwhelmed on both sides of the ball.
That's not Darrell Jackson Jr.'s burden to bear.
Florida State's top defensive tackle might be the best player on the Seminoles' roster, and as his college career reaches its conclusion, it's worth monitoring his 2026 NFL Draft stock.
Darrell Jackson Jr. Wins with physicality
Jackson jumps off the screen with a 6'4", 337-pound frame that is essentially a scouting report in itself. Despite usage at multiple alignments at FSU, Jackson is firmly a nose tackle prospect, and his best reps are a testament to his size.
As a pass rusher, Jackson offers a legitimate bull rush that can push the pocket and beat centers one-on-one, making life easier for his edge rushers. He can overwhelm linemen with flashes of burst, and there might be enough juice to rack up a few more sacks than his win rates would suggest at the next level.
Jackson has a knack for making plays at the line of scrimmage, uses his length well as a tackler, and covers ground well in pursuit for someone of his stature.
MORE: Ohio State has sneaky chance to make history in first round of 2026 NFL Draft
Still, he'll make most of his money on early downs at the next level.
Jackson's frame demands double teams in the run game. He can wreck plays when given the chance and thus finds himself in the box score more often than your average nose tackle. His hand usage is at its best against the run, allowing him to shed blocks effectively and penetrate in one-gap assignments when presiding over the B-gap. His ability to funnel his mass into the weakest point of combo blocks makes him a menace against zone runs and is his quickest path to upside.
What must Jackson do better?
There's a role for Jackson on Sundays, but there are obstacles limiting his rookie-year production, too. Most importantly, he wins with power far more often than technique. That's not a death sentence, especially with his combination of size and burst. Yet, the slimming of margins at the next level makes those dominant reps harder to come by, putting his hand usage under the microscope.
As a pass rusher, I haven't seen much to suggest he'll break the mold of his position, likely limiting his playing time.
While he doesn't show these flashes all the time Darrell Jackson Jr. (#6) Has power and can make plays in the run game like this: pic.twitter.com/eLxEzPN0Cp
— Brian Maafi (@BmaafiNFL) June 15, 2025
On those early downs, Jackson is far more reliable. Still, he can lose leverage, partly due to both his height and inconsistent acceleration. He can lose his anchor against double teams and get displaced more than similarly sized linemen. Physically, Jackson has a strong base but tends to bend high, perhaps leaving extra power on the table. I'm not sure that he's fully optimized in either facet of his game, which adds some uncertainty to his profile despite entering the draft as a redshirt senior.
Jackson's NFL projection
To his credit, Jackson is having his best season in his platform year. He's the best player on this Florida State defense, but there's generally a grain of salt attributed to a player who wins with physicality when they have an extra season or two to develop. A freshman winning with strength is different than a 22-year-old.
Still, Jackson is putting good film out against the best teams on his schedule. The Seminoles might not have beaten Alabama as cleanly without him, and he played well against the NFL talent on Miami's offensive line. Both are meaningful performances that give us reasons to believe in his growth.
| Pass Rush Win Rate | 5.0% |
| Sacks | 3.0 |
| 2025 Production Ratio [(Sacks+TFL)/Games] | 0.4 |
| Career Production Ratio | 0.40625 |
| PFF Run Defense Grade | 83.8 |
| Missed Tackle Percentage | 0.0% |
Jackson projects best as a nose tackle with some interior versatility and a knack for winning on the margins. He finds the football and makes plays, which could help him outplay his draft capital.
He looks the part of a fringe-top-100 prospect and carries a fourth-round grade on my board. Jackson clearly has NFL-level traits and measurements. Developing his technique will be important in exceeding my expectations as a fringe starter with a relatively narrow range of outcomes.
More NFL Draft news
- Arizona State star Jordyn Tyson injury concern could threaten NFL Draft stock
- Texas Tech's breakout star dominating his way to the 2026 NFL Draft
- Projecting post-deadline NFC West team needs for the 2026 NFL Draft
- Jets, Patriots take different paths in Thursday Night Football 3-round mock draft