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In some ways, Donovan Jackson saved Ohio State's season. The intention was to step up and win the week, rescue an offensive line that had been exposed on the edge after star left tackle Josh Simmons suffered a brutal injury and bring some stability to quarterback Will Howard's blind side.
The assignment just happened to come in the season's biggest game, on the road against Penn State, and opposite the best pass rusher in the country and projected top draft pick Abdul Carter.
"Weighed the pros and cons of the decision, but at the end of the day, I just like winning more than anything else and I felt like if me moving outside would help us win, I knew I had a lot of work to do," Jackson said of kicking out to left tackle from left guard, where he had played over 1K snaps and went into the year as a potential mid-round draft pick. "I had no choice but to get better.”
Carter picked up two sacks working against Jackson, so it was baptism by fire, of sorts. But the more confidence he gained, the more important his presence became.
And the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Jackson left no doubt regarding his potential in the Buckeyes' ultimate run to the national championship. He did not allow a sack over his final eight games, giving up just two pressures with zero penalties in that span. The Giants have spent time with Jackson, bringing him in for a pre-draft visit to East Rutherford, and if they were to draft him early on Day 2, he could end up as teammates with the defensive star that made him better from jump, provided Big Blue selects Carter, who has also visited.
Most NFL teams that met with Jackson throughout the week told him they still envision him playing guard in the pros, but they were impressed with his willingness to help his team. If he's more comfortable at left guard, Jon Runyan Jr. could move to right guard without hesitation for the Giants.
Asked his position preference between guard and tackle during his interview session at the Scouting Combine, Jackson simply smiled and responded: “I like playing offensive line.”
Jackson is one of our five favorite fits for the Giants, and here's how the position stacks up:
Who's new: OT James Hudson (Browns, free agent), OL Stone Forsythe (Seahawks, free agent)
Welcome back: guard/center Greg Van Roten (re-signed in free agency), guard Aaron Stinnie (re-signed in free agency
Who left: None
What they still need: The Giants could really use a high level guard that could push last year's starters on the interior. There is reason to believe team brass will take a few swings at the line, adding to the depth of the position, the lack of which has wrecked whatever plans they had at the start of the last two seasons. James Hudson is likely the first up at swing tackle. Whatever plan they set in motion for Evan Neal, either to stay at tackle or to move inside to guard, could ultimately loom as a significant decision, even if it is not to be a part of the starting lineup.
Depth chart: LT Andrew Thomas, LG Jon Runyan Jr., C John Michael Schmitz, RG Van Roten, RT Jermaine Eluemunor; reserves: G Jake Kubas, T/G Evan Neal, G Aaron Stinnie, C Austin Schlottmann, T James Hudson, OL Joshua Ezeudu, OL Stone Forsythe, C Jimmy Morrissey, C Bryan Hudson
Tyler Booker, Alabama: Booker was a team captain at Alabama and their most dominant offensive lineman, allowing just a half sack in 13 games played and over 770 snaps. He just turned 21 years old and is a Connecticut native. He's powerful and a technician on the interior. Not exactly the athletic specimen who will wow you with traits, but the 6-foot-5, 324-pounder makes up for that with savvy play and a keen awareness of the game and high football IQ. He may be selected in the first round before the Giants get back on the clock. Would be a real option at No. 34.
Jackson Slater, Sacramento State: A plug-and-play guy at all five spots, and then at the Senior Bowl, Slater showed he could play all three interior positions. The Giants are open to drafting a starter at either guard spot, but this could be an opportunity to cash in for the long-term, too. Slater started 44 games in his career, earning first-team All-Big Sky honors three times. He was a standout at the Senior Bowl and tested extremely well at the NFL Combine. He is 6-foot-3 and 311 pounds with 32-inch arms. The tape reveals great mobility, strength, and natural leverage that should translate to the next level.
Jake Majors, Texas: Incredible durability at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds. He has high football IQ and, even though he comes into the league projecting solely as a center, the Giants could explore how he'd fit at guard, too. They met with him after the Texas Pro Day. Majors established a new program record with 56 career starts over five seasons.
Marcus Mbow, Purdue: The 6-foot-4, 304-pounder could challenge for a starting guard spot right away with veteran Greg Van Roten and Jake Kubas, who showed promise as an undrafted rookie a year ago. Mbow just turned 22 on April 2, and he has played right tackle the past two seasons, so there is a bit of a projection if the Giants kick him back inside.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 2025 NFL Draft: Our favorite offensive line fits for NY Giants
Continue reading...
The assignment just happened to come in the season's biggest game, on the road against Penn State, and opposite the best pass rusher in the country and projected top draft pick Abdul Carter.
"Weighed the pros and cons of the decision, but at the end of the day, I just like winning more than anything else and I felt like if me moving outside would help us win, I knew I had a lot of work to do," Jackson said of kicking out to left tackle from left guard, where he had played over 1K snaps and went into the year as a potential mid-round draft pick. "I had no choice but to get better.”
Carter picked up two sacks working against Jackson, so it was baptism by fire, of sorts. But the more confidence he gained, the more important his presence became.
And the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Jackson left no doubt regarding his potential in the Buckeyes' ultimate run to the national championship. He did not allow a sack over his final eight games, giving up just two pressures with zero penalties in that span. The Giants have spent time with Jackson, bringing him in for a pre-draft visit to East Rutherford, and if they were to draft him early on Day 2, he could end up as teammates with the defensive star that made him better from jump, provided Big Blue selects Carter, who has also visited.
Most NFL teams that met with Jackson throughout the week told him they still envision him playing guard in the pros, but they were impressed with his willingness to help his team. If he's more comfortable at left guard, Jon Runyan Jr. could move to right guard without hesitation for the Giants.
Asked his position preference between guard and tackle during his interview session at the Scouting Combine, Jackson simply smiled and responded: “I like playing offensive line.”
Jackson is one of our five favorite fits for the Giants, and here's how the position stacks up:
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Giants OL depth chart
Who's new: OT James Hudson (Browns, free agent), OL Stone Forsythe (Seahawks, free agent)
Welcome back: guard/center Greg Van Roten (re-signed in free agency), guard Aaron Stinnie (re-signed in free agency
Who left: None
What they still need: The Giants could really use a high level guard that could push last year's starters on the interior. There is reason to believe team brass will take a few swings at the line, adding to the depth of the position, the lack of which has wrecked whatever plans they had at the start of the last two seasons. James Hudson is likely the first up at swing tackle. Whatever plan they set in motion for Evan Neal, either to stay at tackle or to move inside to guard, could ultimately loom as a significant decision, even if it is not to be a part of the starting lineup.
Depth chart: LT Andrew Thomas, LG Jon Runyan Jr., C John Michael Schmitz, RG Van Roten, RT Jermaine Eluemunor; reserves: G Jake Kubas, T/G Evan Neal, G Aaron Stinnie, C Austin Schlottmann, T James Hudson, OL Joshua Ezeudu, OL Stone Forsythe, C Jimmy Morrissey, C Bryan Hudson
Here are four more of our OL favorites for Big Blue
Tyler Booker, Alabama: Booker was a team captain at Alabama and their most dominant offensive lineman, allowing just a half sack in 13 games played and over 770 snaps. He just turned 21 years old and is a Connecticut native. He's powerful and a technician on the interior. Not exactly the athletic specimen who will wow you with traits, but the 6-foot-5, 324-pounder makes up for that with savvy play and a keen awareness of the game and high football IQ. He may be selected in the first round before the Giants get back on the clock. Would be a real option at No. 34.
Jackson Slater, Sacramento State: A plug-and-play guy at all five spots, and then at the Senior Bowl, Slater showed he could play all three interior positions. The Giants are open to drafting a starter at either guard spot, but this could be an opportunity to cash in for the long-term, too. Slater started 44 games in his career, earning first-team All-Big Sky honors three times. He was a standout at the Senior Bowl and tested extremely well at the NFL Combine. He is 6-foot-3 and 311 pounds with 32-inch arms. The tape reveals great mobility, strength, and natural leverage that should translate to the next level.
Jake Majors, Texas: Incredible durability at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds. He has high football IQ and, even though he comes into the league projecting solely as a center, the Giants could explore how he'd fit at guard, too. They met with him after the Texas Pro Day. Majors established a new program record with 56 career starts over five seasons.
Marcus Mbow, Purdue: The 6-foot-4, 304-pounder could challenge for a starting guard spot right away with veteran Greg Van Roten and Jake Kubas, who showed promise as an undrafted rookie a year ago. Mbow just turned 22 on April 2, and he has played right tackle the past two seasons, so there is a bit of a projection if the Giants kick him back inside.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 2025 NFL Draft: Our favorite offensive line fits for NY Giants
Continue reading...
