NFL Draft Diamonds Scouting Report: Tyree Jackson, QB,University at Buffalo

NFL Draft Diamonds: Tyree Jackson (Quarterback – University of Buffalo) Scouting Report:By Michael Sheppard

Tyree Jackson – QB

University of Buffalo

2019 NFL Draft Class

The 2019 NFL Draft is absolutely sure to be an interesting one. The 2019 draft class is not known for its abundance of top-tier quarterbacks, and the amount of NFL teams in demand for a young, talented quarterback far outnumbers the amount of qualified prospects available. Unfortunately for these teams, they need an immediate answer at quarterback, and a number of college football’s top-notch talents at the quarterback position will not become draft eligible until 2020.

The quarterback position is the hardest, and the most important position to get right in the draft. Personally, I feel that there are a number of interesting quarterbacks in the 2019 draft class. I see a ton of guys with a substantial amount of potential if thrown into the right situation on the right team. However, at most, there is really only one, maybe two quarterback prospects that are almost certain to be a success at quarterback in the NFL. In agreement with most experts, I think that Dwayne Haskins (QB-Ohio State) is truly the best quarterback in the draft

However, while most scouts, writers, and NFL enthusiasts have turned their attention to guys like Haskins, Will Grier (West Virginia), and Drew Lock (Missouri) there is a fourth name that has recently arisen that I feel doesn’t get the attention he deserves. His name is Tyree Jackson, a small school Quarterback for the University of Buffalo.

Player – Tyree Jackson

Position – Quarterback

School – Buffalo

Height – 6’7”

Weight – 245lbs.

Number – 3

Draft Class – 2019

Shortly before the NFL Draft admission deadline, Jackson announced that he will forgo his final season of college eligibility at the University of Buffalo and enter the NFL Draft. Seeing that the 2020 NFL Draft class will be loaded at the quarterback position, I think it was a smart decision by Jackson to leave school early and take his shot at a career in the NFL. Not to mention, Jackson already graduated from college in December with a degree in Social Science. The 2019 draft class is short on talented quarterbacks, and Jackson’s best chance at getting drafted as high as possible is certainly this year.

Jackson is a small school, under the radar prospect with a significantly impressive arm. As a redshirt junior, he threw for 3,131 yards and 28 touchdowns. Jackson appeared in 32 games in three seasons at Buffalo, and found himself just shy of 7,000 career passing yards (6,999) in those three seasons.

One of Jackson’s most compelling skills is his incredibly strong arm. His arm strength is easily among the best in his class, and it’s one feature of his that is sure to make him stand out. He loves to sit back in the pocket and launch the ball downfield. NFL scouts love guys who not only have the ability to do this, but can do it accurately, and Jackson is certainly one of these guys. Throughout several games in the 2018 season, Jackson has proven that the deep ball is not something that he is afraid to throw.

One thing about Jackson is that he has a tremendous number of upsides when it comes to concerning his ability to play. Overall, he’s an effective scrambler who can excel at making throws on the move if needed. Jackson is one of those guys who will go out there and make plays, regardless of whatever team he’s playing for, no matter what type of talent is around him. While watching some of his tape, I noticed he does a pretty good job at extending plays and avoiding sacks where many quarterbacks in the NFL wouldn’t have been able to escape. He’s a big tall guy who’s hard to bring down. He did a fantastic job with Anthony Johnson as his #1 WR, and I only suspect that he will do the same in the NFL.

Additionally, Jackson does a great job at making reads, a feature in quarterbacks that NFL scouts just love to see. He does an exceptional job at making his reads and getting the ball out quick. His football IQ is definitely not something that will be questioned.

One of the downsides on Jackson is the strength of his schedule. The University of Buffalo plays in the MAC, a conference not necessarily known for having top-tier division I football programs. Their toughest opponents of 2018 included schools like Akron, Ohio University, and Northern Illinois. Not a very intimidating bunch. Nonetheless, when it comes to playing experience against top-tier athletes, Jackson is among the bottom of the barrel in comparison to guys like Haskins and Lock. However, playing in a weak conference isn’t necessarily everything. We’ve seen guys like Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) and Ben Roethlisberger (University of Miami-Ohio) transition well into the NFL. It’s certainly possible. However strength of schedule is much more crucial when evaluating quarterbacks than it is when looking at other positions, so it is absolutely something to take notice of.

When it comes to critiques about his ability to play, Jackson has a few things that stand out. When watching his film, it’s easy to tell that Jackson does struggle with some minor mechanics issues when it comes to his throwing. It’s not necessarily something that is a huge concern, as it is a very fixable issue at the professional level, but it is worth noting. At time Jackson has also proved to struggle with consistency issues, and occasionally struggles to hit his receivers on some of the shorter routes. His touchdown-to-interception ratio isn’t horrible, but it is something that will need some improvement if he truly wishes to compete for a job at the professional level.   

Jackson would not be an ideal pick in the first or second round of the draft. I don’t believe that he possesses the short-mid range accuracy, or the experience necessary to compete for a starting position on an NFL roster right away. However, his physical stature and his strong arm make him a favorable developmental Quarterback with a huge upside. He has drawn huge comparisons to guys like Cam Newton. He would be an entertaining pick for a team that has already solidified a starter at Quarterback, but is looking for a guy that they can groom and develop into being a solid backup, and maybe even a potential starter in the future. 

One thing is for certain, he will definitely be an exciting guy to watch at the next level.

Awards:

**2018 MAC Offensive Player of the Year**

Pros: Size, Arm Strength, Playmaking ability

Cons: High number of interceptions, weak conference,

Player Comparisons: Cam Newton, Terrelle Pryor