Major SEC analyst offers high praise for explosive Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle
All season long, Oklahoma's defensive line has been one of the most productive units in the country. The Sooners are 11th in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss, allowing just the sixth-lowest yards per rush in the country. Oklahoma having players like linebacker Danny Stutsman helps, but one player stood out above the rest […]
All season long, Oklahoma's defensive line has been one of the most productive units in the country. The Sooners are 11th in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss, allowing just the sixth-lowest yards per rush in the country.
Oklahoma having players like linebacker Danny Stutsman helps, but one player stood out above the rest against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, and he drew the praise of a prominent SEC analyst.
The key part of Cubelic's tweet is "65 is one of the better DTs in CFB, he was great."
That #65 is defensive tackle Jayden Jackson. What's so amazing about that tweet? Jackson is a true freshman.
At the start of the season, many of us were surprised that Jackson was a Day 1 starter as a true freshman at defensive tackle. It didn't take him very long to make us eat those words. He's continued to get better and better every week, culminating in an elite performance against Alabama last Saturday.
If you just watch the box score, Jackson's numbers feel pretty pedestrian with just two tackles and two pressures all game.
Turn on the film of the game and it's easy to see why Jackson drew such high praise.
Jackson was pivotal in keeping Alabama's run game hemmed in all game. Working against two high NFL Draft picks in left guard Tyler Booker and center Parker Brailsford, Jackson's ability to hold up at the point of attack against double teams and even reset the line of scrimmage kept the linebackers clean and closed down rushing lanes for the Crimson Tide.
It didn't matter if Oklahoma played Jackson over a guard, in between the guard and center, or heads up over one of the two, Alabama could barely block Jackson one-on-one. His impact on the game forced the Crimson Tide to shift their blocking scheme to occupy him, freeing up plays for other defenders.
He only played 33 of the 63 defensive snaps the Sooners had all game, but his impact was one of the most memorable of the night. As just a true freshman, Jayden Jackson's potential feels sky high for the Sooners.
