Happy Days Lois & Clark Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=13689 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vincent Jackson School: Northern Colorado Position: Wide Receiver Class: Senior Height: 6'4" Weight: 241lbs Birthday: 1/14/83 40 Time: 4.55 Positives - The nation’s top Division 1-AA receiver, Jackson is this season’s sleeper at WR. His great size and speed make him look like a tight end in fast forward. He has put N. Colorado on the college football map and is hoping to make his senior season his best. His size makes him impossible to match up one-on-one and his speed makes him tough to catch. He doubles as a receiver and return man for the Bears. His 22.3 yards per catch average by far lead the 1-AA rankings. Weaknesses - Playing at 6’4, 240+, most teams are not going to know what to do with Jackson. He has enough speed to split wide at WR, but how many LB’s could stop him at TE? Being a ‘tweener will hurt Jackson’s stock and it doesn’t help that he has spent his career playing D2 football. The defenders in division 1-AA are not up to par with his talent and he is unstoppable. Much like the biggest kid in elementary school, Jackson dominates. Overall Analysis - If Jackson were putting up these numbers in the ACC, he’d be a first rounder. And a high one. As it is, he’s playing against lesser talent and they have no solution for him. Another great season will get Jackson invited to the postseason all star games and into the combine, where teams will decide if he’s worth the gamble. Reminds You Of: - Teyo Johnson, Oakland Raiders ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vincent Jackson Official Bio College: Northern Colorado Height: 6-43/4 Position: Wide Receiver Weight: 241 Class: Senior 40-Yard: 4.55 SCOUTING REPORT Strengths: Excellent size and height...Good speed...Very good athletic ability...Strong...Has good hands...Will jump over defensive backs to make the grab...Also a good punt returner...A playmaker who has a knack for making the big play and scoring touchdowns. Weaknesses: Did not play against a top level of competition...May be too big to play wideout in the pros and could grow into a tight end...Isn't a great route runner and doesn't look smooth...Inconsistent and needs to show more effort...Isn't much of a threat to run after the catch. Notes: Prospect with a lot of upside and potential...Also played basketball in college...One of the top sleeper prospects in the draft and a player on the rise. - Scott Wright --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NCAA | Jackson Could be Used as a TE - from www.KFFL.com Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:03:05 -0800 Pat Kirwan, of NFL.com, reports Northern Colorado WR Vincent Jackson could develop into a hybrid tight end/wide receiver in the future. At 6-foot-5, 223 pounds, Jackson wasn't the quickest wide receiver on the North team during Senior Bowl practices, but he is put together and is much more intriguing as a tight end prospect. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WR Vincent Jackson, Northern Colorado While he’s definitely a player on the rise, he might not play WR in the Pros. His size (6’4, 241) might make him a TE when coupled with his not-spectacular speed, but what he lacks in speed he makes up in pure playmaking abilities. He jumps over corners to make the catch, and can certainly come up with the ball in traffic. Jackson is a project but could be a great player. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vincent Jackson, Northern Colorado – Jackson played wide receiver at Northern Colorado but his size makes him a better fit to be an NFL tight end. He’s 6’6”, 235 pounds, and runs a 4.5 in the 40. Jackson caught 74 balls last season for 1301 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jackson also led the Great West Conference in receptions, receiving yards, and all purpose yards per game (184.3). He’s got strength, speed and has the ability to stretch the defense. Jackson’s size and speed really turned some heads at this years scouting combine. On the downside, Jackson is not a natural tight end and comes from a Division 1-AA school. After watching his combine workout, I believe Jackson will make the transition to tight end without a problem and will be an impact player during his rookie season. I strongly believe the Packers should draft Jackson if he’s still on the board in the third round. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Head and Shoulders Above the Rest UNC's Jackson Might be the Top Offensive Sleeper for 2005 When projecting small school prospects to the NFL level there is one thing they absolutely must have going for them. What is it? Size? Speed? Versatility? Work ethic? Nope. Actually, all of those help, of course, but while each of these intangibles helps a prospect make an NFL roster, the player first has to get the attention of NFL scouts. And to do that, one has to dominate. Which is exactly what Northern Colorado wide receiver, Vincent Jackson has been doing for the past two seasons. "I haven't faced a player at this level yet that I thought could match up with me in terms of size and athletic ability," Jackson says. Don't take his comments as being brash or arrogant. Quite the contrary, Jackson is a humble, soft-spoken young man - one who the numbers say is speaking the truth. Listed by the school media guide as a 6'6, 235 pound receiver with 4.5 speed, Jackson broke seven offensive records in 2003 for the Northern Colorado Bears - a club that many would be surprised to know boasts six former players currently in the NFL (Anthony Dunn, Dirk Johnson, Andrew Martin, Adam Matthews, Brad Pyatt, and Aaron Smith). Among those records - the single season touchdown reception record (21), the career touchdown reception record (26), single season receiving yardage record (1,462) and the single season all-purpose record (1,949). And he isn't done yet. Just this season, he broke the Bears' single game records for most receptions (15) and most all-purpose yardage (349). While his streak of eleven consecutive games with a touchdown was broken early this season, Jackson does boast nine games over his career with multiple touchdowns, thirteen games over his career with over 100 yards receiving, and five games with over 200 yards. Jackson also has four career punt and kick returns for touchdowns and has remained among the league leaders as a return man (11.6 for punts, 24.9 for kicks) throughout his career. All of the records and awards are even more impressive when you consider that Jackson never tried out for football until the 8th grade. And that only two schools recruited him to play football: Northern Colorado and Colorado School of Mines. And that he started only one game for the Bears until his junior season. And that he decided to walk on to the UNC basketball game last season as a way to keep in shape and have fun in the off-season. And despite missing the first four games of their season, he still led the team in both scoring (13.6) and assists (3.1) and finished second in rebounds (5.6) and fourth in steals (24 on the season), earning 2nd team D-I All-Independent honors. In short, Jackson has dominated. And people are beginning to take notice. Listed among my Diamonds in the Rough since last year, Jackson has begun to receive nationwide attention this season - both in the press and by in scouting circles. Already featured by USA Today and as an ESPN chat guest, NFL scouts will soon get their chance, as Jackson has already accepted invitations to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. "I've been invited to some of the other games," Jackson told us, "but the two I'm interested in are the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game. I'd definitely be interested in playing in both games." Jackson realizes that the level of competition in these contests would be different than what he is used to, and that the NFL will bring even stiffer challenges. "I'm sure I'll meet players at the next level you have the athleticism or physicality to match up with me. But that is where you have to rely on your route-running and aggressiveness towards the ball. Some corners might be as fast or as quick as me, but I can still jump over most of those guys." The biggest concern besides Jackson's relatively low level of competition, of course, is just where to play him. While most teams polled seemed confident that Jackson's best chance at NFL success was at receiver, others felt his lack of pure downfield speed could pose problems. While BLESTO Scouting Service ranked Jackson as a tight end, National Scouting ranked him as a wide receiver. Jackson, on the other hand, remains unfazed. "I think I could be successful as a tight end. Obviously, I have to add some weight and polish up my blocking, but I think I could be a Tony Gonzalez-type threat down the middle of the field. I've never played tight end before and it would be weird, but if the coaches asked me to do it, I'd try it." "I just first would tell them to watch me play receiver before automatically assuming I'm too big and slow for the position. I've got more agility and athleticism than people give me credit for..." Perhaps not. "The kid is definitely one to watch," one NFC scout told us. "The comparisons to [Randy] Moss are off, but he looks like every bit the talent that Teyo Johnson was a couple of years ago and Johnson went in the 2nd round. We'll see how he runs, but this kid looks quicker than Johnson, too. I'm looking forward to seeing him against the big boys this winter." Standing head and shoulders above his current competition, it will prove quite interesting just how tall Jackson does loom when placed amongst the D-I "big boys" in the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. Quite interesting, indeed. Rob Rang November 15th, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 6-5, 223 with loads of athleticism, Vincent Jackson of Northern Colorado looks like he has all the tools necessary to be a pro wide receiver. He made a nice adjustment to dive and haul in a wobbly, underthrown bomb. Howard CB Ronald Bartell, when asked who the best receiver he faced in practice on the first day, quickly mentioned Jackson and said a man his size should not be so swift afoot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OVERVIEW Built like a tight end, Jackson has the foot speed to match up with any cornerback at any level of football. His size makes him almost impossible to match up with in one-on-one situations and is always a threat to turn a play into a touchdown, either as a receiver or a return specialist. The gifted athlete also played on the school's basketball team the last two seasons. Jackson earned honorable mention All-State from the Rocky Mountain News as a senior at Widefield High School. He added first-team All-Conference and All-Area honors as he ranked third in the state (class 4A) in receptions (52) and also tallied 697 receiving yards with 13 touchdowns. Jackson was a reserve receiver as a true freshman in 2001 at Northern Colorado. He caught nine passes for 259 yards (28.8 average) and two scores. Jackson also scored twice on 17 punt returns for 306 yards (18.0 average) and gained 264 yards on eleven kickoff returns (24.0 average). He started one of 14 games in 2002, finishing fifth on the team with 22 catches for 445 yards (20.2 average) and three scores. Vincent also returned 27 punts for 256 yards (9.5 average) and fifteen kickoffs for 379 yards (25.3 average). In 2003, Jackson received national attention, earning All-American honors as he shattered school season-records with 1,462 yards and 21 touchdowns on 66 receptions. His 1,462 yards surpassed the previous mark of 1,044 yards by Cedric Tillman in 1988. His 21 scoring grabs topped the old mark of 11, shared by Dillan Micus (1998) and Keith Grable (1999). Vincent also returned 19 punts for 166 yards (8.7 average) and 13 kickoffs for 321 yards (24.7 average). His 1,949 all-purpose yards broke the school record of 1,531 by Adam Matthews in 2002. Jackson continued to assault the record books in 2004, again earning All-American honors while being named Great West Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He caught a school season-record 80 passes for 1,382 yards (17.3 average) and 11 touchdowns, topping the previous mark of 78 catches by Kim Boerema in 1985. He also gained 296 yards on 25 punt returns (11.8 average) and 274 yards on 13 kickoff returns (21.1 average). His 1,952 all-purpose yards broke his 2003 school season-record. Jackson rewrote most of the school's records during his 46-game career. He finished with 177 receptions for 3,548 yards (20.0 average) and 37 touchdowns, breaking the old marks of 168 catches by Kim Boerema (1982-85), 2,507 yards by Cedric Tillman (1986-89) and 20 scores by Keith Grable (1996-99). He returned 88 punts for a school record 1,024 yards (11.6 average) and two scores, topping the previous mark of 967 yards by Earnest Collins (1991-94). Returned 52 kickoffs for 1,238 yards (23.8 average). Only Johnny Watkines (1,262, 1981-84) gained more yards on kickoff returns for the Bears. Jackson amassed 5,810 all-purpose yards, shattering the previous UNC career-record of 4,104 yards by Adam Meadows (2000-03). ANALYSIS Positives: Possesses outstanding size, strength and quickness for his position … Shows average initial quickness off the snap, but uses his hand strength to defeat the jam … Gets a good push off the defender to quickly get into his route … Needs a little polish in his running stride, but can be sudden getting into the short area … Has very good hand quickness, showing the ability to uncover and extend for the ball … Natural hands catcher who will pluck and snatch away from the body's frame … Maintains concentration going for the ball in a crowd … His outstanding ball adjustment skills and ability to track the deep ball make up for his lack of blazing speed … Has the lower body power to break tackles and keeps his balance while building up speed to accelerate and take the ball to the house … He also has the flexibility and cutting agility to get to the off-target throws … Is best when working on slants, as he has the power to turn the short area pass into a long gain … Shows good stick on post routes. Negatives: Bit of a long strider who has to build up speed in order to accelerate … Despite his size, he does not show aggression as a blocker and did not see him spend much time mirroring, shading and controlling defenders on contact … Has good plant-and-drive agility, but needs to do a better job of coming back for the ball … Must improve his route running, as he usually reverts to taking soft angle cuts … Gathers himself and gears down a bit when attempting to get in and out of his breaks … Decent returner at the level he played in, but must develop a quicker burst in order to be effective returning kicks in the pros. INJURY REPORT 2004: Bothered in spring drills with a lower back bruise suffered during the previous basketball season. AGILITY 4.46 in the 40-yard dash … 2.57 20-yard dash … 1.56 10-yard dash … 39-inch vertical jump … 32 ¾-inch arm length … 9 5/8-inch hands … 33 Wonderlic score. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Widefield (Colorado Springs, Colo.) High School, playing football for coach Paul Macrenato … Earned honorable mention All-State from the Rocky Mountain News and also earned first-team All-Conference and All-Area honors … Ranked third in the state (class 4A) in receptions (52) and also tallied 697 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. PERSONAL Business major, possessing a 3.2 grade point average … Son of Sherry and Terry Jackson … Born 1/14/83 … Resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, Powered by The Sports Xchange ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vincent Jackson, the Next Big NFL Star? KKTV's Jesse Kurtz If you follow college football, chances are you know the names of many of the high profile superstars: Josh White of Oklahoma, Reggie Bush of USC and Cedric Benson of Texas. All household names---all play on national television---but there's another name you need to know before April. It’s a kid from our own backyard is playing at the University of Northern Colorado. And he’s on the verge of hitting the big time in the NFL. Nottingham Field in Greeley, Colorado is home to one of college football's best wide receivers---Vincent Jackson. Now, its become a focal point of NFL draft. “Everybody wants to be a professional athlete. They tell you its one in a million,” he says. But for Vincent Jackson, life in the NFL is practically a sure thing. He's 6'6, 235 pounds, and runs 4.5 in the 40. That’s a rare combination of size and speed that has many NFL draft experts rating the Colorado Springs native among the top receivers in the country. Some are going as far as projecting him as a first-round pick in April. “It’s exciting to know they play on ESPN and CBS. I'm just waiting in the wings---buying my time. The day will come when I'll be hanging out with those guys,” he says. Bears head coach Kay Dalton spent 13 years in the NFL during the 70's and 80's. His tenure included stops in Denver coaching receivers like Vance Johnson and Mark Jackson. But he has never seen a talent like Vincent Jackson. “I've coached a lot of wideouts in my career. In my opinon, he's as good as any of those I had,” says Coach Dalton. So the obvious question is---how did every big-time program in America miss out on such an electric player? It all started back in 2000. Jackson was a senior at Widefield High School---stuck in an offense that didn't pass the ball too often. Thus, he didn't get noticed. “He didn't show up well on tapes,” remembers Coach Dalton. Football season came and went and no big time offers were on the table. “I got questionaires in the mail from D2 and D3 schools,” he says. Then came Jackson's big break--Basketball season. “I sent my coach to watch him play basketball. He came back and said he dominated the basketball court,” says Coach Dalton. Shortly then after, Jackson received a partial football scholarship at UNC. He spent his freshman and sophomore seasons seeing limited action. Then, Jackson exploded on the scene---gracing the covers of national publications and rewriting the UNC record books. He is now the Bears’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, along with a handful of additional special teams records. Jackson doesn't second-guess his decision to play at a small college. Even though he believes he could have been a star in a big-time program, this place made him what he is today. “You get to the big schools---guys get too much. Take it for granted. Every thing here I've worked hard for, it’s made me a harder worker, a better player and person,” says Jackson. Jackson’s athletic talents extend beyond the football field. His junior year, he led the men's basketball team in points and assists. But he'll give up basektball his senior year to concentrate on the NFL a profeesional football career. “If i want to do this at the next level, I want to do it the right way. I'm gonna be around scouts and GM's. Kids at D1 schools are used to the attention and lights. For me, it will be awe-inspiring,” Jackson says. Jackson plans to hit the NFL scene with a message---the same message carried into college football. “Even at the lower level, guys can be difference-maker and an impact player.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And you'll need one to contend with a player like Colorado State's Vincent Jackson, a 6-5, 241-pound phenom who was able to get good separation from pressing cornerbacks at Senior Bowl workouts. Jackson naturally could move to tight end. He's strong enough and has a wide enough frame and the wingspan to be a good blocker, but he wants to be a wide receiver. There have been few complaints thus far and Jackson did a fine job at the Combine, where he showed soft hands in the "gauntlet" drill. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vincent Jackson, wide receiver, Northern Colorado: He may have helped himself more than any player in the draft. Jackson dominated small-school competition. Still, there were questions. Not anymore. Jackson shocked scouts by running a 4.44 40 and having a 39-inch vertical jump. Couple those measures with these numbers: 6-5, 240 pounds. Wow. Jackson will enter the NFL as the biggest receiver in the league. With that type of speed. He could sneak from being a mid-rounder to a top 25 pick. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ By Vincent Jackson, Special to the News March 11, 2005 University of Northern Colorado receiver Vincent Jackson is on the clock. His countdown to the NFL draft started the day his senior season finished at Greeley. And as the Colorado Springs native prepares for the April 23-24 talent grab - he already has made stops in January at Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl and in February at Indianapolis for the league's scouting combine - he will keep a diary for the Rocky Mountain News of the places he goes, the people he sees. Part 3: The big sigh When (the combine) was over, I got on the plane and it was just like wooo, such a great feeling to come back here and know a weight was just lifted off your shoulders. It was the biggest test you're going to have before the draft. I mean, this whole process is about the combine. And to go there and do well and be happy with my results, I was really excited when it was over. Definitely a relief. Six weeks, eight weeks of training for something that didn't take more than a couple hours. It was definitely a big relief to get it done and I'm glad it turned out well. I believe I convinced some people I can play wide receiver. Some of the scouts talked to my agent (Jonathan Feinsod) and asked, "Did you get him a receivers coach or something? Has he been working with a receivers coach because his routes are so good?" We laugh about it a little now because before the workouts, some people thought I was too big to be a wide receiver, that I'd be a tight end or an H-back or something. And I think some of those people even thought I'd go (to Indianapolis) and run a 4.7, a 4.8 (seconds in the 40-yard dash), something like that. But when I ran, the time I was shown was a hand-timed 4.46, 4.47, then electronically 4.49 and 4.50. I think they decided to average me out to 4.48. I'm very pleased with that, definitely. I thought all along if I ran in the low 4.5s, because of my size, it would help me. So I just wanted to be around that area. I knew it would be good. Outside of the workouts, I also met with a lot of teams, got in front of coaches, general managers. I think by the time it was done, there were only a couple of teams that I had not talked to. And most of them, almost every team, said when they watch my film, as big as I am, that I just played fast. That was the biggest thing. (Kansas City Chiefs coach) Dick Vermeil told me that and a couple of other coaches told me that, too. They were like, "We look at you on film and you don't look like you're 6-5, 240 pounds," which I think was probably the biggest compliment I got. Just to hear that from coaches - that they wouldn't think I was so big the way I control my body. But I felt very comfortable. I've tried to prepare myself for all of that. The coaches were really nice and they just want to get to know you - your background - just have a conversation with them. I was relaxed. I had a great time with it. A great time. I think that's one of my biggest assets, my intelligence and my personality. Just to be able to sit down and talk to receivers coaches, talk about my experiences and my goals, my knowledge of the game. I think that really helps you. They see how you play on the film, but they want to see what's underneath the helmet as well and (the interviews) helped me out, too, as well as testing out well. I'm not enrolled in classes right now, so I have some free time over the next few weeks. My pro day here is coming up and it's just time to get prepared for the next step. I've got to get my stuff ready to move out. To where, I don't know yet, but it's time to be ready for what comes next. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overview: Jackson is a small-school prospect with exceptional size, good speed for his size, and impressive production at the & level. He has been a fulltime starter since his sophomore season in 2002, had 21 touchdowns in 2003 and has had maintained an outstanding yards-per-catch average throughout his career. Jackson also has some versatility as a return specialist. There are obvious concerns about him transitioning to the NFL. However, while he will need time to improve his overall technique and feel as a route runner, Jackson has the physical tools to make the jump. If Jackson is able to showcase his skills against better competition in a post-season all-star game and if he runs in the 4.5's during his workouts, he could quickly rise up the charts and wind up coming off the board in the third/fourth round range ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://uncbears.collegesports.com/sports/m..._vincent00.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Drane Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 I'll bet you a pair of tickets to the opener he won't be there for our 2nd rd pick, let alone the 3rd. This is the best physical specimen at the combine, and I think he goes in the 1st. I can't blame you for liking him, but the guy is a beast and too many GM's saw that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Days Lois & Clark Posted March 22, 2005 Author Share Posted March 22, 2005 I'll bet you a pair of tickets to the opener he won't be there for our 2nd rd pick, let alone the 3rd. This is the best physical specimen at the combine, and I think he goes in the 1st. I can't blame you for liking him, but the guy is a beast and too many GM's saw that. 282783[/snapback] I think most mock drafts have him going after the Bills pick in the 3rd round but I can see why he would go higher. This kid appears to be a stud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coltrane34 Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Yeah he was one of the best looking recievers at the combine. Move him to TE and any team would be happy to have him. He will be gone by the second round, and the bills need o-line help first. If they could trade up for Bass or another lineman then they could take him with their second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Days Lois & Clark Posted March 22, 2005 Author Share Posted March 22, 2005 Yeah he was one of the best looking recievers at the combine. Move him to TE and any team would be happy to have him. He will be gone by the second round, and the bills need o-line help first. If they could trade up for Bass or another lineman then they could take him with their second. 282853[/snapback] Tom Donahoe had mentioned that they probably would draft a TE Vincent Jackson could definately stretch a defense and create mismatches against TE's and Safeties Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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