Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson made the most of his NFL Scouting Combine invite over the weekend in an effort to get his draft stock even higher for the NFL Draft in April.
The Razorbacks’ star pass rusher tested well in virtually every workout he participated in, especially his 40 1/2 inch vertical jump, which ESPN reported sent “a notable buzz” through Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
“Doing that at 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds was one of the most impressive feats from Day 1,” ESPN’s Matt Miller wrote Sunday. “Jackson followed that up with a 10-foot-9 broad jump before running a smooth 4.69 in the 40. Jackson is a power player on tape, so showing this type of explosive ability and flexibility was key for his draft stock. He's a solid Round 2 player on my board, but Jackson's performance this week could get him picked inside the top 40.”
Jackson tallied a career-best 49 total tackles as a senior in 2024. He added 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks on the year to push his career totals to 26.5 and 16, respectively.
The former LSU transfer is currently listed as the No. 41 best available player in this year’s draft by Pro Football Focus. According to FrontOfficeNFL on X, Jackson is one of just four players since 2003 to weigh more than 260 pounds and jump higher than 40 inches in the vertical. The other three were Mario Williams in 2006, Myles Garrett in 2017 and Shamar Stewart from Texas A&M this year as well.
Arkansas has had just three players drafted in the top-40 picks of the NFL Draft since 2008. Treylon Burks went 18th overall in 2022, Frank Ragnow was drafted 20th overall in 2018 and Hunter Henry went 35th in the 2016 draft.
The Razorbacks haven’t had a defensive end drafted since both Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jeremiah Ledbetter were selected in 2017. Jamaal Anderson was the last Arkansas defensive end to be drafted in the top-two rounds (8th overall to Falcons in 2007).
The first round of the NFL Draft will be held Thursday, April 24, at 7 p.m. CT. Rounds two and three will begin at 6 p.m. CT Friday, April 25.
