By:Jeremy T. Ballreich
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. arrived at Ohio State as one of those prospects who carried the weight of expectation before he ever stepped onto the field. A former top‑50 national recruit out of Florida powerhouse Chaminade‑Madonna Prep, Jackson was billed as the next long, explosive Buckeye edge rusher in a lineage that includes Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Chase Young, and Zach Harrison. But unlike some of his predecessors, Jackson’s path to becoming a legitimate NFL prospect wasn’t immediate dominance — it was a slow burn, a developmental climb defined by patience, physical maturation, and flashes that hinted at a much higher ceiling. By the time he emerged as a full‑time contributor, Jackson had evolved into one of the most intriguing projection-based defensive ends in the 2026 class.
Standing around 6‑5 with a long, angular frame and the type of wingspan that defensive line coaches salivate over, Jackson looks the part the moment he steps off the bus. His build is classic modern edge defender: lean but not thin, flexible but not fragile, and with the kind of growth potential that suggests he’s still far from maxed out physically. Ohio State’s strength staff helped him add functional mass throughout his career, and by his final season he carried his weight with far more stability, power, and leverage than he did as an underclassman.
Jackson’s game begins with his first step — a sudden, twitchy burst that allows him to threaten the outside shoulder of offensive tackles early in the rep. He’s not a pure speed demon, but he accelerates efficiently and covers ground quickly, forcing tackles to open their hips sooner than they’d like. That initial burst sets up the rest of his pass‑rush plan, which is still developing but shows encouraging signs. Jackson’s go‑to move is a long‑arm stab that takes advantage of his reach, allowing him to create displacement even when he doesn’t win cleanly. When he times it correctly, he can walk tackles back into the pocket and compress throwing lanes.
Where Jackson really intrigues evaluators is his ability to bend. For a player with his height and length, he shows surprising ankle flexion and hip mobility, allowing him to dip under contact and flatten toward the quarterback. He’s not a Gumby‑style bender like some smaller edges, but he has enough flexibility to threaten the corner and enough body control to stay balanced through contact. That combination of length, burst, and bend is what gives him legitimate NFL upside — traits you can’t teach, traits that defensive coordinators covet.
Against the run, Jackson is more of a work in progress, but the growth is evident. Early in his career, he struggled with pad level, anchor strength, and block deconstruction. By his final season, he had improved his hand placement, added more lower‑body strength, and played with better discipline on the edge. He’s not a dominant run defender yet, but he’s no longer a liability. He sets a firmer edge, plays with more patience, and uses his length to keep himself clean. His tackling radius is enormous, and when he gets his arms around a ball carrier, the play is usually over.
The biggest question with Jackson is consistency. His flashes are NFL‑starter caliber — violent hands, explosive get‑off, impressive bend — but they don’t always show up snap to snap. He can disappear for stretches, especially against more physical offensive tackles who force him into power battles before he’s fully ready. His pass‑rush plan is still evolving, and he needs to diversify his counters. Too often, he relies on his long‑arm or tries to win the edge without setting it up. The good news: his tools give him a wide margin for growth, and his improvement trajectory at Ohio State suggests he’s still ascending.
From a projection standpoint, Jackson fits best as a 4‑3 defensive end or a hybrid edge in a multiple front. He’s not a stand‑up outside linebacker in the traditional sense — he’s at his best with his hand in the dirt, firing off the line, and using his length to dictate the rep. Teams that value traits and developmental upside will be drawn to him, especially those with strong defensive line coaching. He’s the type of player who may not be a Day 1 star but could become a high‑level starter by Year 2 or Year 3 if his technique catches up to his athletic gifts.
In a draft class that often separates prospects into “finished products” and “high‑ceiling bets,” Kenyatta Jackson Jr. clearly belongs in the latter category. He’s a traits‑rich, ascending edge defender with the physical tools to become a disruptive NFL starter. His path at Ohio State wasn’t linear, but it was meaningful — a steady climb that showcased resilience, development, and flashes of dominance. For teams willing to invest in his continued growth, Jackson offers the kind of upside that can reshape a defensive front.
If he lands in the right system with the right coaching, Jackson has the potential to be one of the steals of the 2026 draft — a long, explosive, bendy edge rusher whose best football is still ahead of him.
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