Ja’Quinden Jackson 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Ja’Quinden Jackson 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Ja’Quinden Jackson is just another name in a loaded running back class. This time we even get to talk about a converted quarterback! I can’t imagine this one will take that long to go over considering we’re essentially talking about a car that’s meant to crash into things with no high end gear to go fast. Let’s get right to the 2025 NFL Draft profile on the Arkansas running back.

NFL Draft Stock Report: Week 2, Week 6, Week 8, East-West (1), (2), (3)

It wasn’t exactly a traditional path for Jackson compared to the other RBs in the class. Once upon a time, he was a quarterback at Utah. Now he’s a strictly pure power back with no other elements in his game. Odd transition but that’s what we’re looking at here.

We’re not talking about a guy who has zero talent. Once regarded as a four star duel threat QB prospect coming out of the state of Texas. Jackson, 23, checks in over 6-foot-1, 229, and just might be able to be used in trick play stuff for the team he goes to. Actually has NFL bloodlines too. His cousin is Keaontay Ingram, who most notably played for the Texas Longhorns.

The problem is you can tell he’s not a natural running back. This is a power back with one speed. Had fumble issues at times. Feel free to read all the stock report notes on him at the top. It will confirm everything I’m saying here but I thought he was a horrible performer at the Combine and East-West game. Didn’t run the 40 either and his jumping numbers were pretty pedestrian for the position. It’s obvious there is no long speed here. Zero in the passing catching area too.

Spent three years at Utah but really made the switch to RB in 2022. Had some flashes but only had 78 carries. The next year it was 4.9 YPC on 161 attempts and four touchdowns. With the Hogs to wrap up his college career, he rushed for 790 yards on 149 attempts (5.3 YPC) and notched 15 touchdowns. Again, it felt like all that damage came in the first half of the year and there’s no question you can use this guy on the goal line.

It’s crazy because over and over again all I wrote down in my notes was the word hammer. It was watching a guy run into a brick wall over and over again do his best to help kept Arkansas relevant. He was their offense during the early portion of the season. Then it became pretty obvious he wore down after all the punishment and that was pretty much it.

Phil Mafah 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Ja’Quinden Jackson gets an undrafted grade for me. He certainly saved his career making the switch to running back. Then again, given the limitations within his game, it’s hard to really value a guy who can only win with power and we saw him slow down playing that run against a brick wall style. I won’t be shocked if another team drafts him and would be willing to give him a shot on the preseason undrafted roster.

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