Dolphins Select Austin Jackson With No. 18 Pick in NFL Draft

The Dolphins picked up some protection for Tua Tagovailoa, drafting USC tackle Austin Jackson with their second first-round pick.

The Dolphins selected OT Austin Jackson with the 18th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Jackson was raised in Arizona and went to school at North Canyon High School in Phoenix, AZ. A playmaker on both sides of the ball, Jackson played on the defensive and offensive line for the Rattlers. A five-star recruit, Jackson is a versatile athlete, also playing basketball and running track.

Miami Dolphins NFL Draft Picks 2020: Round-by-Round Results, Grades

Several schools, including Washington and Arizona State, recruited Jackson coming out of high school before he committed to the University of Southern California. As a two-year starter, Jackson served as USC’s anchor along the offensive front. Notable moments include his performance against Stanford in a 45-20 win during Week 2 in 2019. He helped keep QB Kedon Slovis clean in that contest and it was a stepping-stone to earning FirstTteam All-Pac 12 Honors at the end of the season.

Jackson has an aggressive play style in which he initiates contact with defenders to climb to the next level. He has enough length, mobility and quickness to handle defenders in the pit and at the second level. He is tough as nails and that, along with his athletic upside, caught the attention of several pro scouts. Jackson (6-foot-5, 322 pounds) ran a 5.07 in the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He projects as a future starter but will need some polishing at the NFL level.

Here’s why SI’s Kevin Hanson ranked Jackson as the No. 32 overall player on his big board:

Jackson doesn’t turn 21 until August and may have benefited from returning to USC for another season. That said, he has quick feet and athleticism that could entice a team to take a chance on his upside in the first round as his technique catches up to his athleticism.

Stick with SI.com throughout the weekend for in-depth coverage of the 2020 NFL Draft, including the impact of prominent rookies joining new teams, team-by-team breakdowns, fantasy football and gambling reactions, draft grades and so much more.

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