Commit Video Breakdown: 4-star DE/OLB Mark Jackson

Oklahoma earned the commitment of Cibolo (Texas) Steele 4-star Mark Jackson on Monday. Jackson, who is listed as a weakside defensive end, will likely play outside linebacker in the Sooners’ 3-4 defensive front.

Jackson was a standout during the Army All-American Bowl and showcased his explosiveness when he fired around the edge and collided with Jacob Eason forcing a sack, fumble, and turnover that eventually lead to a West touchdown in the game’s first quarter.

There are some guys that just play more violently and the No. 36 player in Texas easily fits that description using active hands and feet to be a terror on the edge. He plays with a high motor and is relentless in pursuit. Jackson is active with his hands and feet, which make him difficult for more lumbering offensive tackles to square up on.

Watch Jackson’s feet in constant movement, squared towards the ball carrier, maintaining an athletic stance while dodging the blocker, and then exploding for the tackle.

At defensive end, Jackson’s 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame may make him a liability in the running game if teams decided to come right at him. However, at outside linebacker, it makes him bigger than both Eric Striker and Devante Bond who played the position for Oklahoma in 2015 and neither topped 6-foot-1 or 240 pounds.

If an offensive tackle plays too far on his heels, Jackson’s explosion will eat him up, but if they are caught with their weight too far out in front and lunge, Jackson uses his quickness in both his feet and hands to make his blocker miss in a phone booth.

This is another instance when Oklahoma’s unique defensive scheme allowed it an opportunity to pursue a distinctive athlete for their purposes. Jackson’s skills lend themselves to being an outside linebacker who is charged with setting the edge and getting after the passer. It’s a good sign for Mike Stoops that his personnel is starting to more closely imitate the standards for his current defensive philosophy.