The Ohio State defense has been one of the biggest stories in college football this season. Matt Patricia’s unit has shut opponents down to the tune of 121.3 yards and 7.8 points per game, thanks to the play of superstars like safety Caleb Downs and linebacker/edge hybrid Arvell Reese. The headlines surrounding these two make it difficult for those outside of Columbus to recognize the impact that Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has had as the guy doing all the dirty work for the Buckeyes. Jackson’s scouting report will evaluate his strengths, weaknesses, and potential fit in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Scouting Report
Measurements
Height: 6060
Weight: 265 lbs
Strengths
Jackson’s best attribute is his awareness on the field. He’s consistently quick to diagnose what direction a run is headed and what kind of block an opponent is attempting, whether it be a tackle trying to reach his outside shoulder, or recognizing that he’s unblocked and a kickout is coming from a pulling guard. He does a great job of engaging his blocker early and attacking pullers with force, often stalling their momentum and allowing Jackson firm control of his gap. Jackson is also great at recognizing screen passes and disengaging from his rush to chase ballcarriers. His motor never turns off, and effort sacks on longer developing plays are a regularity on his tape.
Been waiting for Ohio State EDGE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (#97) to breakout… and it may be happening. After slow start to the year, he has 5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks over the last 3 games.
Still raw but you can’t teach 6-6, 265 pounds, and a plus athlete. Potential 2026 riser to know. pic.twitter.com/96N4BkWkw3
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) November 8, 2025
Weaknesses
Jackson’s hand usage is still a large work in progress. When defending the run, he doesn’t shed blocks quickly enough to consistently attack the ball carrier. As a rusher, Jackson defaults to a bull rush, but he isn’t strong enough to generate consistent push against bigger tackles yet and needs to add mass to his frame if he wants to be a consistently effective power rusher. As previously mentioned, Jackson will beat his opponent on longer developing plays using a two-handed pull either down or to the side once the bull rush stalls out, but these usually take time. Jackson needs to develop a pass rush plan if he hopes to win quicker, especially against NFL offensive tackles.
Bottom Line
Jackson possesses a projectable frame with the ability to add 10-15 more pounds without losing a step athletically. His athletic potential, combined with his intelligence and very capable run defense, gives him a solid floor as a rotational defensive lineman. Jackson is worth a day two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the mid to late third round being the sweet spot to take a chance on a high-floor guy. In terms of fit, Jackson’s longer build will limit him to playing defensive end in a four-man front, but he could potentially be deployed as a stand-up outside linebacker in a 3-4 if needed. When it comes to Jackson’s fit, any team with a poor run defense that’s looking for a glue guy would benefit from selecting him. The Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders come to mind as two teams in the bottom six when it comes to rushing yards allowed per game, with Buffalo especially needing a Joey Bosa replacement in the near future.
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