The New York Giants’ staff will be looking especially hard at defensive players at this week’s NFL Combine. One cornerback has been compared to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and the Giants should be on the Giants’ radar: William Jackson III.
Jackson was a junior college transfer and became a full-time starter at Houston as a junior. He’s got very attractive height and length. His official height will be confirmed this week, but he’s above average for a corner. Coaches at the combine will be watching his speed and agility this week at the combine.
He’s the sixth-highest ranked corner on Pro Football Focus and in his senior year, allowed a QB rating of 53.9 with 5 interceptions. The most attractive quality to Jackson is that he’s a ballhawk. He had seven pass breakups in the AAC Championship game and, according to NFL.com, led the nation in passes defended.
According to Shawn Spencer of NFLMocks.com, Jackson has “good football intelligence in the run game, he diagnoses the play quickly and takes the proper angles.” He also was an impact blocker on the punt team at Houston, which could make him an immediate contributor in the NFL.
Jackson isn’t projected to be a first-round pick in the draft, but the Giants could be looking for him in the second or third round. It’s a deep draft for cornerbacks, so there will be good value in the later rounds. With Prince Amukamara’s future uncertain, the Jerry Reese will be looking for depth at corner and Jackson may be the ballhawk the Giants are looking for.