2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: D’Eryk Jackson, LB, Kentucky

D’Eryk Jackson is a very instinctual player that can sniff out a run play very well and elude blockers to make secure tackles at a high clip between the hashes. Check out the scouting report from Hula Bowl scout Justyce Gordon.

Player Data

Name, Jersey #	D’Eryk Jackson, #54
School (Code)	University of Kentucky (KYUN)
Class Yr	5^th Year Senior
Height, Weight	6020, 244 lbs.
40 Yd Dash	4.70e
Position/Depth	LB
Honors/Captainship	2020 First Year Academic Honor Roll, 2021 Academic Honor Roll, 2022 Academic Honor Roll, 2023 Academic Honor Roll and 2023 All-SEC Defense (PFF).
Season Viewed (yr)	2023
Games Watched	Georgia, Missouri, Louisville & Florida
Scout Name / Date	Justyce Gordon, 09-14-24

Per Year Stats (Most Recent First)

2023	52 solo tackles (89 total), 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 Int’s, 4 PD’s and 1 FF in 13 games
2022	27 solo tackles (67 total), 4 TFL and 2 PD’s in 13 games
2021	13 solo tackles (18 total), and 1 Int in 4 games
2020	4 total tackles and 1 Int in 8 games

Player Summary:

D’Eryk Jackson is a 5^th year senior at the University of Kentucky. His career got off to a slow start due to opportunity and injuries early on but is coming off of a fantastic season last year and has garnered legitimate attention. He possesses good height and frame for his position, with solid play strength at POA also. Good interior leverage ability vs run as he shows good ability to work around blocks and work toward the ball carrier well. Solid perimeter leverage ability vs run, good pursuit ability to take proper angles to the ball carrier when moving sideline to sideline. Good tackling ability between gaps vs the run, able to secure tackles consistently on interior. Plays with very good IQ/awareness in run support vs misdirection/RPO concepts and to get hands up when he can’t get to the QB. Good match/mirror ability vs TE’s in Man, solid ability vs RB’s out of the backfield. Overall, solid route rec in Man to play leverage and anticipate as well. Good match/mirror ability in Zone, as well as good recognition to read QB. Overall, good ball skills to make a play on the ball when the play is in front of him. Adequate ability to work through blocks on the interior, can get stuck on blocks when bigger linemen can get hands around him. Sideline-to-sideline speed is about average, opponents with plus speed will beat him around the edge on perimeter plays. Lower body is a bit stiff and is slower when changing direction, can struggle to break down and secure tackles in open field vs more elusive ball carriers. Adequate ball skills with back to the ball in coverage as he is slow getting his head around to locate the ball.

Scheme Fit:

4-3 Sam or Will LB.

Power Statement:

D’Eryk Jackson is a very instinctual player that can sniff out a run play very well and elude blockers to make secure tackles at a high clip between the hashes, while showing versatility in coverage with his solid athleticism to mirror in Man & Zone. Jackson won’t work through blocks on the interior with his natural strength and does struggle to contain edge against opponents with quality speed as well. Overall, his football IQ puts him in good positions on the football field in both phases on defense and he has the ability to be a quality starter at the next level.