Jackson Powers-Johnson, Center, Oregon
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 328
Arm Length: 32 1/4
40-Yard Dash: N/A
10-Yard Split: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Vertical: 32″
Broad Jump: 8′ 8″
Bench Press: N/A
Pros
- Extremely patient but never plays from behind.
- Understands his strike moments.
- Packs a very accurate and precise punch.
- Keeps his head on a swivel for late rushers and movement.
- Anchors down quickly in pass protection.
- Athleticism allows him to fluidly move in space.
- Has a good feel for when the QB is leaving the pocket.
Cons
- Pretty high pad level out of his stance. (especially in pass protection)
- Short arm length exposes his upper body.
- Can sometimes get lost in the weeds on screens.
Notes
- Consensus All-American in 2023.
- First-team All-PAC 12 in 2023.
- 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl participant.
Overview
Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson stole the show at the senior bowl and has been gaining steam ever since. An outstanding for the Ducks, he gained First-team All-PAC 12 and a consensus All-American recognition this year. But what exactly does he do so well and is there anywhere he could still improve?
As I watched more and more of Johnson’s games, the biggest thing that stood out to me is how patient he is. Although patient, it’s amazing how he never falls behind a play. He understands his strike moments and packs a strong and accurate punch. He does a good job keeping his head on a swivel, searching for late rushers or defenders on stunts. Johnson is a fluid athlete who moves very smoothly on screens or when needing to move the pocket on designed roll-outs. This athleticism, in addition to his flexibility and core strength, also allows him to anchor down very quickly in pass protection. Lastly, Johnson values a good rapport with his QB. He consistently seemed to understand when his QB was leaving or about to leave the pocket.
With all this, there isn’t much Johnson needs to improve on. In pass protection, Johnson’s pad level occasionally gets too high too quickly, he can sometimes get lost in the weeds on screens, and his shorter arms will expose his upper body against larger DTs. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything Johnson can do to lengthen his arms. However, in terms of not getting lost on screens, he just needs to keep things simple. If he sees someone, go and hit them.
As I said, Jackson Powers-Johnson has been gaining more steam ever since the senior bowl concluded. And the thing is, it’s all very well deserving. At this rate, Jackson Powers-Johnson could be a second-round pick.
My Two Cents
While there are a couple of good IOL prospects in this year’s class, I think that there’s a really good argument that could be made for Powers-Johnson to be the best one. Because of this, I think he’s very much worth a second-round pick. If I needed a center, I wouldn’t even mind trading up for him into the late first round or early second.
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