Miami Hurricanes defensive end Joe Jackson continues to rack up the preseason accolades. Jackson was named the ninth best defensive lineman in college football by NFL.Com.
Jackson came in ninth out of the 11 players that NFL.Com ranked on defensive lines across the country. Jackson’s ranking is encouraging for the Miami Hurricanes. In the article, NFL.Com’s Daniel Jeremiah proclaimed 2018 as “the Year of the Defensive Linemen” in college football.
The list is not a projection of where the linemen are projected to be taken in the NFL Draft. It is more of a list of players to watch on the defensive line this fall.
Only two of Clemson’s touted stellar front four were ranked ahead of Jackson. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is slotted sixth and defensive end Clelin Farrell is fourth. Tigers defensive tackle linemen Dexter Lawrence is 11th, Clemson defensive end Austin Bryant was not in the NFL.Com 11.
The list is part of a series NFL.Com is doing at six different positions. They have also compiled quarterbacks, defensive backs and wide receivers so far. Miami was one of only three schools to have players selected at both defensive back and on the defensive line on the NFL.Com list. Ohio State and Michigan were the others.
Away Back Gone
Miami Hurricanes safety Jaquan Johnson was the Hurricanes player chosen to the list of the top defensive backs by NFL.Com. He was the only defensive back in the ACC chosen to the list.
Miami linebacker Shaq Quarterman will likely be one of the linebackers selected to the list when that comes out. That could make the Hurricanes defense the only one in the country with a top player at each of the three levels.
Jackson led Miami in sacks as a Freshman and finished second last season. Over the past two seasons combined, Jackson’s 14 sacks led the Hurricanes. Jackson also has 82 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, two passes defended, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown in his career.
Jackson enters 2018 the leader of the Miami defensive line. With five key players gone from the 2017 rotation up front including two defensive ends, Jackson will be counted on often this season. Jeremiah’s summary of the Hurricanes stud defensive lineman is below.
"“This year Miami had three defensive linemen drafted from last season’s team, but Jackson led that D-line in tackles (59) and recorded 6.5 sacks (second-most on the team) as a sophomore.Jackson has great size. He’s able to generate outstanding speed and converts it to power in collapsing the pocket from the edge. Jackson has the ability to make relatively sudden lateral movement that helps him finish tackles at difficult angles.From a production standpoint, Jackson’s tackles for loss and sack numbers were close to identical from his freshman to sophomore seasons. A noticeable jump in production is often the norm for a defensive lineman in his third year of play — he could be in for a strong season.”"
Jackson has been talked about as a first-round draft pick in several early prognostications for 2019. If he had the kind of year that NFL.Com is projecting that very well could become a reality.
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The only other defensive end with significant experience on the Miami Hurricanes roster is Senior Demetrius Jackson. He is expected to start opposite Joe Jackson at end. The Hurricanes also return Sophomore Jonathan Garvin. They are high on the potential of Freshman Greg Rousseau.