FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson, this year’s top-rated NFL Draft hopeful in the state, wants NFL teams to know something very specific about him.
“If they draft me, they’re getting a dog,” Jackson told NBC during the NFL Scouting Combine last month. “A guy who’s going to come in there and find a way to make an immediate impact, and that’s kind of the biggest thing.”
Jackson, rated as a top-10 edge rusher by many outlets in this year’s draft, is considered a solid candidate for selection by Day 2, which features the second and third rounds Friday. The NFL Draft begins Thursday at 7 p.m. from Green Bay, Wis., with the first round.
Jackson headlines the list of Arkansas prospects, which includes defensive tackle Eric Gregory, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, receivers Andrew Armstrong and Isaac TeSlaa, and defensive back Hudson Clark.
Defensive backs Jayden Johnson, Marquise Robinson, Doneiko Slaughter, Kee’yon Stewart and Anthony Switzer; defensive linemen Anton Juncaj and Keivie Rose; kickers Matthew Shipley and Kyle Ramsey; and receiver Tyrone Broden participated in a Pro Day for the Razorbacks on March 17 in front of personnel from all 32 NFL teams.
Landon Jackson, a 6-6, 254-pounder from Texarkana, Texas, added 40 pounds at Arkansas since 2022 after transferring from LSU. He was a team captain in 2023.
He had a team-high 6.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024, including 3 at Alabama in 2023.
Jackson was rated No. 8 among edge rushers by Pro Football Focus, No. 10 by All Access Football and No. 12 by ESPN.
Wrote NFL.com of Jackson: “High energy prospect with projectable traits but unorthodox movements and body control that might create a lack of conviction when it’s time to stamp a grade.”
Jackson tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine with a time of 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash and he impressed at Senior Bowl practices.
“I jumped really well on vertical and broad [jumps] and ran a solid 40,” Jackson said at the Razorbacks’ Pro Day. “I thought it was going to be a little quicker, but I mean I can’t complain about a 4.6 ever. So I really enjoyed that and then did really well in position drills as well.”
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was heavy with praise for Jackson during the combine.
“Landon Jackson’s fun to watch,” Jeremiah said. “He plays with a reckless abandon and a quick first step, which you’ve seen through the testing and the jumps. He understands how to use his length to play off blocks. He is really, really strong.
“His speed to power is something that showed up in the Senior Bowl game, so I love it when you see guys kind of ace all the tests. You’re productive in the fall and then you go to an all-star game and you light it up in the Senior Bowl game.”
Jackson trained in Phoenix prior to his Pro Day at Arkansas, then remained in Fayetteville for six weeks leading up to the draft. His aim for watching the draft this week is giving a little something back to his home community.
“I plan on watching it back home in Texarkana,” Jackson said on Pro Day. “I plan on throwing a draft party, getting a pretty decent group out there.
“Both of my state championship teams in high school, I’ve texted both group chats and told them to spread the word throughout those teams just to kind of give back to those guys who played a part in me getting to this point.”
Armstrong and TeSlaa should be interesting case studies, as Armstrong clearly had more production in their seasons with the Razorbacks, but TeSlaa’s testing has made him a higher-ranked prospect by many evaluators.
ESPN ranks TeSlaa as the No. 17 receiver in the draft and has Armstrong at No. 46. All Access Football has TeSlaa at No. 26 and Armstrong at No. 29.
Armstrong, 6-4 and 202 pounds, led the Razorbacks with 78 receptions for 1,140 yards and 1 touchdown last season, and he displayed great hands and skill at winning 50-50 balls. His prospect grade of 5.94 on NFL.com signifies an “average” NFL backup and his athleticism score of 73 ranks 25th among current prospects.
NFL.com’s analysis of Armstrong noted his big production for the Hogs, but added he “will need to prove it is translatable in the pros. He doesn’t get in and out of breaks quickly enough to separate and lacks the pure gas to be a field-stretching option, but he has good size and ball skills.”
Armstrong said being in position to enter the NFL Draft is “a dream come true” and he’s concentrated on preparing himself for the next step.
“I continue to work, like I’ve been doing my whole life, and not listening to outside noise, outside media and things like that and just focus on what I’ve got in front of me,” Armstrong told the ESPN Arkansas radio network.
Armstrong also said he came off his Pro Day workout, where he caught passes from senior quarterback Taylen Green, feeling strong about his pre-draft performances.
“I feel like I had a great day at the combine, but I feel like I had an even better day here,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong will be at home in Dallas for the draft.
TeSlaa, a 6-4, 214-pounder who had 28 receptions for 545 yards and 3 touchdowns for Arkansas last season, had a 6.13 prospect grade on NFL.com, signifying a “good backup” who has a chance to develop into a starter.
TeSlaa had impressive showings at the combine and the Senior Bowl and earned a 9.97 Relative Athletic Score at the combine, which ranked 11th out of 3,441 receivers since 1987.
“I kind of went in with a chip on my shoulder,” TeSlaa said on Arkansas’ Pro Day. “Obviously, I’ve always had to believe in myself. I know my athleticism. I obviously didn’t know about the RAS score or whatever they’re calling it, but it’s cool to see how I ranked in that.
“Obviously, it’s more about how you play on the football field than how your athleticism is. But I feel like I helped myself a lot at the combine, and it went really well for me.”
Ja’Quinden Jackson battled through a severe ankle injury in 2023 at Utah and also dealt with the ankle issue while leading the Razorbacks last season with 790 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, the most for a Razorback since Alex Collins rushed for a school-record 20 touchdowns in 2015.
“It’s been a long journey,” Jackson said on Pro Day. “But I’ve enjoyed it. If I would’ve never went through the stuff I went through I wouldn’t be here now. It’s a blessing to be here in these shoes, and it’s a lot of people in the world that don’t get this opportunity.”
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