In an unbelievable season for the Ohio State Buckeyes, offensive lineman Donovan Jackson became an unsung hero who is rarely talked about.
Jackson is an offensive guard who committed to the Buckeyes as a five-star recruit in the 2021 class. He has played his entire career at Ohio State and finished his senior season on the top of the world as a national champion.
So why is the hero not talked about more? He had to switch from guard to tackle in the middle of his senior season.
Donovan Jackson Switches From Guard to Tackle
While it may seem like a simple task, the switch from offensive guard to tackle is an extremely hard one. As a tackle, you have completely different responsibilities and techniques than that of a guard.
Not only did Jackson have to make the switch, but he had to do it midseason after Ohio State starting left tackle Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending injury against the Oregon Ducks on Oct. 12. Ryan Day asked his starting guard to slide out to OT, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Jackson became QB Will Howard’s blindside blocker. Ohio State’s offensive line got even better when Jackson made the switch, as Howard was No. 7 in fewest sacks taken in the 2024 season.
Jackson’s versatility has caught the eyes of many scouts and analysts, including senior bowl director Jim Nagy.
Jim Nagy Calls Jackson Ohio State’s MVP
Getting praise from Nagy can instantly improve a player’s draft stock. Calling a player the MVP of the national champion team is really going to catch the eyes of NFL scouts.
Jackson came into the season with moderate draft hype as a guard, but after his performance at left tackle, NFL teams are surely going to take notice. Now, a franchise that needs an offensive guard or tackle could use Jackson’s versatility and value him highly on their big board.
KEEP READING: Chip Kelly Makes Eye-Catching Remarks About Ohio State QB Will Howard After National Championship Win
As of right now, in CFN’s free Mock Draft Simulator, Jackson is going in the second round pretty consistently. With a strong Senior Bowl performance, he could very realistically be a first-round draft pick.
After a truly amazing season for Jackson, it’s nice to see him get the praise he deserves.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
