Will added strength and and declining performance as a rookie spur Drake Jackson to become a force in his second season?
SANTA CLARA — Drake Jackson likes who he sees in the mirror these days, and not just because he’s added some necessary muscle following a disappointing rookie season.
Jackson said he’s put on about 13 pounds and has increased his lifting in the squat to 415 pounds and the bench press to 315 — not staggering totals for an NFL player but a considerable improvement for a player who wasn’t prepared for the rigors of his profession.Jackson is friendly and loquacious, and while he never came out and said it during a Tuesday media session, it’s clear his work ethic entering the league was a long way from where it needed to be.“I just kind of wanted to get out . . .
Kocurek said he’s had only two players in 15 years who were truly ready to be NFL defensive linemen from the moment they arrived — Ndamukong Suh in Detroit in 2010 and Bosa in 2019. Both were named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.But rather than obsess over what the scale says, Jackson is more focused on the process that will enable him to tap his considerable potential in a way that eluded him as a rookie.
At Centennial, Jackson was the Southern California Defensive Player of the Year as named by the Southern California News Group, and he helped fulfill a dream of his father by accepting a scholarship to nearby USC. Scouting reports noted Jackson’s skillset while questioning his strength and if he was properly equipped to handle NFL linemen who would outweigh him by 50 pounds or more. He broke out the backflip a couple of times as a rookie, but chances to celebrate were few and far between.
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