The state of Texas has been good to the Buckeyes, and the success in the Lone Star State has continued with the class of 2021.
BIG pickup here! @D_jack78 is officially a Buckeye #GoBuckeyes #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/WHAnvflXdn
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 16, 2020
Donovan Jackson emerged early on as one of the top targets in the trenches, and the Houston-area guard made his intentions known nearly a year ago in January 2020.
The Jackson File
- Class: 2021
- Size: 6-foot-4/295 lbs.
- Pos: OG
- School: Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★★
- Composite Rank: 17 (1 OG)
A five-star who's listed as the nation's No. 1 offensive guard prospect, Jackson was initially ranked as a tackle by some outlets before the projection changed to that of an interior lineman. He's been lining up at left tackle and has dominated in that role for his Episcopal High School program.
At 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, he's an interesting prospect because he has the length (nearly a 7-foot wingspan) to play on the outside even though he doesn't possess prototypical tackle height. The best guess is that he plays guard at the collegiate level but could slide over to tackle in a pinch.
Jackson visited Ohio State back in April 2019 for the spring game and then returned in November when he was on campus for the game against Penn State. He also used this time to visit some of his family members in Ohio during the Thanksgiving holiday.
At the time of his commitment back on Jan. 8, Jackson became the ninth member of Ohio State's 2021 recruiting class. He joined Ben Christman as the second offensive lineman in the class (though that number is now up to three thanks to the addition of Zen Michalski). Jackson's other finalists included Texas, Texas A&M, Stanford and Georgia.
Jackson actually camped at Ohio State as an eighth-grader, and that's when his relationship with Greg Studrawa began. The Buckeyes extended an offer not long after the camp performance. That relationship continued to build over the coming years and was only enhanced with each return trip to Columbus.
“Coach Stud and I have probably one of the best relationships I have (with a coach), and when Coach (Ryan) Day came on board, I feel like our first conversation we’ve clicked since then,” Jackson told Eleven Warriors previously. “Seeing where that relationship has gone, it’s really fun to see that (evolve).”
COMMITTED...
— Donovan Jackson (@D_jack78) January 8, 2020
LONG LIVE THE BROTHERHOOD
O-H!!
: @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/ZAkBb7Nfx0
It appears that Ohio State will lose both Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers following the 2020 season, but over the team's interior line depth is solid. We got a taste of that when Matthew Jones stepped in admirably against Michigan State, and touted players like Enokk Vimahi and Luke Wypler are also waiting in the wings.
Jackson will not be enrolling early at Ohio State as his high school does not allow its players to graduate early. Jackson expressed that Mickey Marotti already has a plan in place so that he doesn't get too far behind from a strength and conditioning standpoint. His plan is to get on the field as a freshman and contribute in any way possible, whether it be on offense or special teams.
Jackson also talked about what it feels like to put an end to this lengthy recruiting process and officially become a Buckeye:
“It’s a very surreal moment. When I committed, I felt like I was done from that standpoint in terms of recruiting. So obviously my family’s excited, and I’m ready to just get the ball rolling. I’m pretty sure my family’s more excited about this than me. I just wanna get on campus and get with everyone and start.”
An advanced prospect who's one of the nation's very best linemen, Jackson has a nasty streak and has drawn some comparisons to Davis. It's always difficult to earn significant early playing time as an offensive lineman, but the five-star may be one of a handful of prospects in a position to do so. It would be a bit of a surprise if we don't see him on the field next year in some capacity.
He is one of five five-star commitments thus far for the 2021 recruiting class and his lofty ranking is behind only that of Jack Sawyer and Emeka Egbuka. Jackson's decision to sign with Ohio State is a major win for Studrawa and should help continue the tradition of strong interior line play in Columbus.
