Los Angeles Chargers undrafted rookie spotlight: DL Bijhon Jackson
By Travis Wakeman
After playing in 50 games for the Arkansas Razorbacks, Bijhon Jackson has landed in Los Angeles and will attempt to prove he’s got what it takes to find a spot within the Chargers’ roster.
Jackson is a massive player who in theory would add to the Bolts’ run defense. That is, if he’s quick enough and savvy enough to hold up at the professional level.
Though he played in 50 college games, he registered a statistic in just 30 of those. He also never recorded more than 22 tackles in a season. Despite turning down offers from Alabama and Ole Miss, he never truly materialized into a difference maker in Fayetteville.
As a result, he didn’t receive a ton of interest heading into the draft, and that may have been hampered by the results of his pro day, which didn’t yield favorable results.
He ran a 5.28 40-yard dash and only put up 22 bench reps of 225 pounds. I use the word ‘only’ because you’d think a man of his size might be able to put up at least five more.
During his playing career, Jackson has worked hard to keep his weight at a manageable level. At 339 pounds, he will begin camp as the heaviest player on the Chargers’ roster.
However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, so long as it doesn’t cause him to lose any quickness or play speed.
If he were to earn a roster spot, he would join Darius Philon and Hunter Henry as Arkansas alumni on the team.
Take a look at Jackson in action against Mississippi State last season:
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My Take
It’s going to be difficult for Jackson to make this roster unless he is able to show something that he basically never did in college.
The Chargers were poor against the run last season but there will be multiple players in front of Jackson on the depth chart including experienced veterans such as Brandon Mebane and Corey Liuget (even if Liuget is facing a suspension).
He won’t be able to contribute on special teams, lessening is odds of making the final 53-man roster. Could he land on the team’s practice squad? Possibly. However, fellow undrafted defensive lineman Steven Richardson seems to have much more upside.