BREAKING: Memphis Grizzlies fans receive mind-blowing news as another super talent signs with franchise
Landon Jackson had two main reasons for returning for his senior year with the Arkansas football program.
The Razorbacks’ defensive end aimed to improve his draft stock and rectify a disappointing 4-8 season in 2023.
After six weeks of the 2024 season, Jackson is achieving both objectives.
As he anticipated during fall camp, his contribution to winning has naturally boosted his position on draft boards. The Razorbacks’ recent 19-14 victory over Tennessee highlighted the program’s revival that he sought.
“It was really exciting. You know, getting the opportunity to win big games in the SEC is a big reason why I came back,” Jackson said Tuesday night. “I mean, I really enjoyed it, but as coach says, you’ve got to flush it right after and prepare for the next week.”
Jackson expressed to the Southwest Times Record this spring that four wins in 2023 “was not acceptable.”
The Razorbacks (4-2, 2-1 SEC) have already matched last year’s win total with the second half of the season still ahead.
The defense has been pivotal in the Hogs’ turnaround. In SEC matchups, Arkansas ranks third in the league, allowing just 16.3 points per game, with Jackson being the unit’s most impactful player.
His statistics, including only two sacks and 19 tackles, may not stand out, but according to Pro Football Focus, Jackson ranks 24th in the nation and fifth in the SEC with 14 quarterback hurries this season.
Pro Football Focus rates Jackson as Arkansas’ highest-graded defensive player this season.
“(Jackson’s) get-off is much faster this year than it’s been,” said Arkansas coach Sam Pittman on Monday. “He’s putting the tackle in a two-way go. Obviously, if your get-off is slow, you’re either going to bull (rush) or run the edge. Now, he has also added that spin and that inside move where he’s getting the tackle to open up a little bit.”
Jackson believes he has room to improve, stating that he has become a better student of the game this year by watching more film and pushing himself to improve in key areas. He also feels more confident using his hands at the line of scrimmage.
Jackson made a significant impact on the NFL Draft scene last year with 3.5 sacks against Alabama, and he likely would have been a day two selection had he declared after his junior year. His performance this fall is helping him aim for a higher potential.
Recent mock drafts from CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, SB Nation, and Walter Football all project Jackson as a first-round pick next spring. ESPN’s top draft analyst, Mel Kiper Jr., ranks him as the second-best defensive end in the 2025 class.
Jackson will have another chance to enhance his stock on Saturday night when the Razorbacks host No. 8 LSU (6 p.m., ESPN). Jackson began his college career with the Tigers before transferring to Arkansas for the 2022 season. LSU features offensive tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., both potential first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jackson will be a key focus for his former team during this weekend’s Battle for the Golden Boot.
“I love (Jackson’s) motor. I mean, the kid never stops,” said LSU head coach Brian Kelly on Wednesday during the SEC Teleconference.
“His second effort is as good as anybody’s in the league. He just plays with an extra heartbeat, and as coaches, you love watching kids that play like that.”
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