Shedrick Jackson, WR Auburn: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Jackson was a three-star recruit from Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala. in the class of 2018

Fifth-year wide receiver Shedrick Jackson is one of Auburn’s top two receiving threats. He’s also a former three/four-star recruit and Auburn legend Bo Jackson’s nephew. While Jackson has an ideal build for a wide receiver and some physical tools, he lacks the production and skill set to be viewed as a high-round option in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Shedrick Jackson, WR Auburn: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth year senior outside receiver from Hoover, Ala.

Background: Jackson was a three-star recruit from Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 392 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 343 (four-star) for On3.com. Jackson was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked four-star recruit for ESPN with an 80 grade out of 100. He helped Hoover High School win an Alabama state Class 7A championship. Jackson participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game before enrolling at Auburn in January of 2018. His birthday is October 20. He is the nephew of former Pro Bowl running back and All-Star outfielder Bo Jackson.

2021 Production: 13 games, 40 receptions, 527 yards, 1 touchdown

2020 Production: 8 games, 6 receptions, 84 yards

2019 Production: 9 games, 2 receptions, 31 yards

2018 Production: 11 games, 2 receptions, 15 yards

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed three games in 2020 including at least one to injury, missed the start of spring practices in 2021

Awards: 2020 SEC Academic Honor Roll

Pros: Experience playing in the slot and out wide, eliminated drops over the course of his career, special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units, finds the holes in zone (especially over the middle of the field), displays effort blocking in the running game, occasionally lines up in the backfield, quick off the line, speed prevents him from being jammed at the line of scrimmage, long arms to extend his catch radius, creates some separation at the top of hook and curl routes, maintains catches going to the ground and through contact, several inside-out/outside-in releases that get the CB to declare his hips before reversing course, sinks well at the top of routes

Cons: True 50-50 receiver who doesn’t excel in jump ball situations, lacks the speed and play strength to break tackles and generate YAC, struggles to create separation against press coverage, lacks the play strength to sustain blocks, doesn’t threaten to blow past off-man coverages with speed, lacks a varied release package, inconsistent at generating separation at the top of the route stem, not elusive in the open field, doesn’t vary route speed, lacks the suddenness to take advantage of his releases, feints, and fakes, doesn’t have any dominant physical or technical traits, not a vertical threat

Overview: Jackson is unofficially listed at 6'2", 202 lbs. He was on the receiving end of 15% of Auburn’s targets in 2021. Jackson is a long strider who excels at working over the middle of the field. He’s experienced playing in the slot and out wide and has more than 200 total special teams snaps under his belt on four different units. Jackson excels at finding and sitting in holes in zone defenses (especially over the middle). Auburn occasionally lines him up in the backfield to scheme him touches. Jackson displays effort as a blocker in the run game. He’s quick off the line and his speed prevents him from being jammed at the line of scrimmage. The former three-star recruit has terrific height and long arms to extend his catch radius, but he doesn’t consistently capitalize on his size advantage. Jackson hauls in about half of the jump balls thrown his way, but other receivers with similar builds turn those 50-50 throws into 60-40 advantages. The fifth-year prospect creates separation at the top of hook and curl routes because of his ability to sink and turn. Jackson displays inside-out and outside-in releases that get the defensive back to open his hips before the receiver attacks in the opposite direction. However, he lacks the speed and suddenness to take full advantage of those successful releases and setups. Jackson is primarily used to clear out space when he releases on vertical routes, but he rarely creates enough separation downfield to get deep targets. He doesn’t threaten to blow past off-man coverages with speed and lacks the agility, speed, and strength to break tackles and generate significant yards after the catch. Jackson doesn’t create much separation against press coverage. His release package needs to expand. Jackson doesn’t display any dominant physical or technical traits.

Overall, Jackson has an impressive build and sinks well at the top of hook and curl routes to create separation, but his lack of dominant physical and technical traits makes him a late Day 3 pick at best. Jackson currently projects as a traits-based priority undrafted free agent who was underutilized in college.

Role & Scheme Fit: X or Z receiver in an 11 personnel heavy scheme

Round Projection: UDFA

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 09-29-22