2001 Draft

Positives: Very good size and speed. Has the ability to get deep and separate. Good runner after the catch. A play maker and a big-play guy. Wants the ball in the clutch. Can dominate games at times, as he showed in the 2000 game against Nebraska.

Negatives: Hot-and-cold player who has too many lapses in concentration. Drops too many balls and lacks some discipline. Gets careless with the ball and will fumble. Did not work out at the combine even though he was not injured.

Summary: Could be an impact player or a disappointment. Has the tools to excel but must improve his approach to the game and focus to realize his potential, or else he may be a guy who teases with his talent but can't be relied upon every week.

Positives: Has been a good player on a good team that played good competition and used a pro-style offense and practiced very hard. Looks the part. Has enough speed to get outside. Plays faster than his time. Has really good feet. Shows good run vision inside and outside. Came on late in his senior year.

Negatives: Does a lot of things from average to good but is not great in any area. Jackson has vision inside but is not a very powerful inside runner who will break a lot of tackles with his legs. Can get outside, but he does not have great cutting ability or elusiveness and in some games looks like a one-cut type of runner. Can catch the ball but does not stand out in the passing game.

Summary: Has a good chance to make an NFL team and contribute early in his career, but he will never make anyone forget Edgerrin James. Played for Butch Davis!

Positives: Fine all-around athlete. Has played some quarterback and can punt. Can play anywhere in the secondary. Nice size. Faster than most safeties and bigger than most corners. Will hit.

Negatives: Rarely plays to timed speed. Late reacting at times. Does not always seem to see the big picture. Has a hard time covering as a corner, unless he is playing right up on the receiver.

Summary: Has the measurables but does not play to them because his recognition seems to come in stages, and he lacks great anticipation and ball skills.

Positives: Tough and active. Has pretty good playing speed. Shows some pass-rush ability off the edge.

Negatives: Is too small to play defensive end in the NFL and may not have the change of direction or agility to be a true linebacker. Generally plays with his hand on the ground like an end and rarely is used in pass coverage.

Positives: Versatile. Has played every position in the secondary. Has better speed, feet and cover skills than most safeties and is fast enough to look at as a corner. Made a lot of big plays as a junior, when he was healthy.

Negatives: A small safety who does not tackle very well and lacks upper-body strength. Late breaking down and does too much grab-and-lunge tackling. Does not turn his hips well enough to be a really good cover corner when he's playing backed-off, man-to-man coverage. Is not a good enough cover man to be a pure corner.

Summary: Could make it as a backup and special-teams player, but he is not what teams want in a starting safety or corner.

Positives: Fine intangibles. Big, strong, tough, mean and nasty. Has been durable and dependable. Plays with power and uses his hands and arms well. Has a large body and knows how to use it. Understands blocking angles and position. Can anchor and generally keep defensive linemen from getting to his body. Plays above his athletic ability.

Negatives: Average athlete. May not be quick enough to play tackle on the next level. Appears to be a little tight in the hips and does not have great suddenness in his play.

Summary: A big, strong, tough, mean and nasty, muscle-and-maul-type guard who may not look pretty but gets it done. A warrior and a blue-collar worker whose hands are quicker than his feet.

Positives: Solid receiver who has pretty good size and catches the ball very well. Will snatch the ball with his hands away from his frame. Tough and competitive. Will catch in heavy traffic. Good blocker who at times will be a physical blocker. Shows some run after the catch and has even returned a few punts. Had a good East-West Shrine game.

Negatives: Overaged with a November '73 date of birth. Only started a couple of games in his career and did not play that much as a senior. Is not a speed-burner or game-breaker.

Summary: Played behind two great receivers in college but is a pretty good player in his own right. May not be drafted, in part because of his age, but has a good chance to compete for a spot on the roster of most teams because of his hands and toughness.