New York Giants Draft Prospect: WR Jha'Quan Jackson
Jha’Quan Jackson, WR
Height: 5’9
Weight: 185 lbs.
Class: Senior (5th-Year)
School: Tulane
Stats
A former three-star recruit out of Hahnville High School in Boutte, Louisiana, where he was the 35th Louisianan recruit and the 59th athlete prospect during the 2019 recruiting cycle. Jackson’s uncle is Baltimore Ravens legendary safety Ed Reed. He earned 2021 Fourth Team All-AAC honors and was on the 2022 Second Team All-AAC.
Jackson has a big week ahead of him at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. His production, size, and conference all work against him, albeit he did catch four of eight passes for 83 yards and a touchdown against Ole Miss in Week 2 of the 2023 season.
Jackson had a few knee injuries throughout his career in 2017 and 2021. He also had off-season labrum surgery in 2021 that resulted in missed spring workouts and practice.
Strengths
- Good overall athlete with excellent short-area quickness and agility
- Good deep speed, can breakaway
- Explosive with solid change of direction
- Solid body control on sudden cuts while running route (whip, dig, etc.)
- Has quick feet that - with coaching - may be a weapon with his releases
- Did have a solid speed release with acceleration to stack
- Stacked easier vs. CBs that
- Speed to eliminate DB’s angles
- Solid ability to create extra separation at the top of breaks
- Controls speed well when running rotues
- Solid job selling his routes through the stem phase to manipulate CBs
- Has running back vision in space
- Solid feel on where to sit vs. zone coverage
- Shifty in a phone booth - screen weapon!
- (Q3 10:32 Southern Miss)
- (Q1 3:39 Southern Alabama - 4th & 6)
- Q2 5:57 2022 USC
- Maneuvers through traffic very well - maximizes blockers
- Ability to maintain space on out&up
- (Scissors concept appeal; Quarters/Palms)
- Would do well on switch releases
- Has shown ability to extend away from frame (doesn’t do it a ton)
- (Q1 7:41 South Alabama)
- Creative YAC ability via his shiftiness/vision
- Will be a special teams player
- Experience as a kick/punt returner
Weaknesses
- Short with a wiry frame
- Limited catch radius
- Wonder what size his hands are
- Not a lot of experience vs. Press
- 10% of snaps over the last two seasons were vs. Press
- Concentration issues on bang-bang plays
- Catching in traffic is not a strength
- Adjusting to footballs away from his frame
- Hands are inconsistent
- Credited with three drops, per PFF,
- However, plenty of possible catches were not hauled in
- Play strength at the catch point
- Is not a contested catch threat
- Limited YAC ability through physicality
- Limited route tree
- Manufactured touches
- May only play slot at the next level (76.6% slot-rate in college)
- Never had more than 554 yards in a season
- Never had more than 33 catches in a season
- Had some injury red flags that are detailed above
Summary
Jha’Quan Jackson is an undersized special teams threat with excellent vision in space when he possesses the football. His inability to consistently catch the football is an issue, but he could be a dangerous weapon with manufactured touches at the next level.
He’s not just a weapon near the line of scrimmage, though, he does a good job tempoing his speed on deep routes, while losing little to no momentum on deep switch releases - which is something Brian Daboll frequently uses in his offense. He’ll start as a special teams’ returner who will get an opportunity or two in a game to use his big play ability, but needs refinement to become a starter.
GRADE: 5.89
Nick Falato
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