From now until the 2025 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Arkansas running back Ja’Quinden Jackson.
#22 Ja’Quinden Jackson/RB Arkansas – 6014, 229 pounds (Redshirt Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Ja’Quinden Jackson 6014/229 9 1/2 9 1/2 79 3/8
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.75* N/A 4.36 7.19
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’0″* 33* 15*
*Pro Day number
The Good
– Good pass protector who displays good technique
– Safe receiving option
– Confident hands, never loses stride when securing ball
– Decent play strength
– Decent but inconsistent contact balance
– Succeeds when driving legs through contact
– Can make defensive linemen miss with quick side-step
– Best used in gap scheme
– Still has potential due to recently switching positions
The Bad
– Inconsistent vision
– Overall average athletic ability
– Average burst
– Does not possess home-run speed, which limits explosive plays
– Does not have the speed to win the edge
– Struggles to break tackles
– Does not possess quick jump cut to burst through hole
– Fails to turn negative plays into positive ones
– Short, choppy steps limit burst
– Will struggle in a zone scheme
Bio
– Started 10 games at Arkansas in 2024 after transferring from Utah, where he started 11 games across three years at running back while also serving as a backup quarterback. Transferred to Utah from Texas, where he played quarterback
– 2024: 149 carries for 790 yards and 15 touchdowns; 13 catches for 139 yards
– Named 2024 honorable mention preseason All-SEC and made the 2024 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
– 2023 at Utah: 161 carries for 797 yards and four touchdowns; nine catches for 53 yards
– 2022: Appeared in 13 games at quarterback, running back, and special teams, recording 78 carries for 531 yards and nine touchdowns with one catch for 8 yards
– Four-star prospect out of Duncanville High School in Texas, where he led team to two consecutive state title games
– Ranked the No. 2 overall recruit in Texas and No. 28 on the ESPN300
– Earned prep All-America and first-team All-State honors
– Jackson says he found his joy in football after switching to running back full time, a position he had not played since his sophomore year of high school
Tape Breakdown
Ja’Quinden Jackson had an up-and-down college career, switching schools twice and changing positions once. As a running back, you can see why he was originally a quarterback, as his marginal athletic ability is the biggest downside to his game. He is not very flexible and does not have the change of direction to fool a defense and quickly hit a hole. The lateral speed is not there, and he struggles to get the edge against flowing defenders, as shown on this play.
I do not think he has the agility to play consistently in a zone offense that needs him to put his foot in the ground and burst through a hole. While he can make defensive linemen miss, he struggles to use a quick juke, jump cut, or swim move to beat an athletic defender. He has short strides that take a while to get under control, and by that time he is already tackled.
Along with his limited athletic ability, I think his vision is inconsistent. There are some plays that will make your head turn as to why he made his decision, but he also has plays where it looks good, and he has a positive run. On this play, Jackson bends a run to the inside when he has an opportunity to get outside and potentially create a positive play.
While Jackson will serve best as a gap-scheme runner, there are still some major concerns. He struggles to break tackles due to just decent play strength. There are also plays where he does not drive his legs down the field, leading to easy tackles for the defense. His contact balance can show up at times where defenders bounce off him, but there are some plays where a little push can put him on the ground.
His lower-body strength needs to improve, and at the weight he plays, defenders should not be able to bring him down easily. On this play, Jackson has a wide-open hole that looks like it will turn into an explosive, but an ankle tackle brings him down with ease.
These are plays that simply cannot happen to an NFL back, and Jackson needs to continue to work on his lower-body strength and consistent contact balance.
The most encouraging part about his game is on passing downs he is a reliable pass catcher and pass protector. As stated before, he is not the most athletic player, but he does a good job of being a safety net for a quarterback to check down to, and he does a good job of never breaking stride and getting upfield quick. His hands are reliable, and you can tell he has the confidence to make plays after the catch.
In pass protection, he does a good job of finding his assignment and attacking with good aggression. This is what he does best, but he can still clean up his technique to become a more polished blocker. He tends to throw his shoulder at the defender, which works sometimes but will be exposed more in the NFL as teams target him.
Conclusion
Ja’Quinden Jackson has some room to grow in all areas of his game, which is encouraging because he is new to a full-time running back role. He has a lot of weaknesses but shows flashes of good play. He will be best used as a third-down back who can be a safe option for a quarterback while also serving as a solid pass protector. My comp for him is Caleb Huntley.
Projection: Late Day 3
Depot Draft Grade: 6.2 – 6th/7th Round (End of Roster/Practice Squad)
Games Watched: vs Texas A&M (2024), vs Tennessee (2024), vs Texas (2024)
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