Drake Jackson is looking forward to reuniting with former USC teammate on San Francisco 49ers

Drake Jackson heard his name called at the 2022 NFL Draft, with the San Francisco 49ers selecting the defensive lineman. He was selected with the No. 61 overall pick and will begin his career in the place he’s always called home after attending USC — the state of California.

A fellow Trojan is already on the San Francisco roster in Talanoa Hufanga. Although they played different positions while is Los Angeles, Jackson said the two had a solid relationship in college. Jackson called Hufanga “a dog” and has modeled his worth ethic after the defensive back.

“I mean, back on the 30 visit and I actually saw him,” Jackson said. “We were able to chop it up. Before I came in, Talanoa was one of the top guys at my school. He really was one of those guys to look up to. He got one of the gold plaques on our walk of fame. Just one of those guys that have those work ethics you just look at and you’re like ‘man, I got to get like that.’ As a freshman, I would say I looked up to him for sure because he was a dog. And I wanted to be a dog. I was willing to do whatever it took to be that.”

The USC duo will be reunited when preseason camp starts back up in the fall. After Hufanga showed Jackson the ropes while the two were in college, he could be given the same task now that they’re both in the NFL.

Drake Jackson wanted to prove he is a ‘freak’ during NFL Scouting Combine

Before the NFL Scouting Combine, Jackson was asked what he wanted teams to learn about him. He wanted to prove he was a “freak” and said he is willing to play wherever he is needed — even if there is a learning curve.

“I just want them to know I can do anything. I’m a freak, man. I love to do it all,” he said during Friday’s media session at the 2022 NFL Combine. “It doesn’t matter what it comes to. And if I can’t do it, I’ll work to do it.”

“A lot of teams are trying to figure out what I am, but you know, I’m everything,” Jackson said. “That’s what I tell them. Wherever you need me, I can play it. You can put me at nickel. I got to work to play nickel? I’m going to play nickel. It doesn’t matter where I’m at on the field, I just have to play. I love making plays at any position.”

Now, the self-proclaimed freak will be heading to San Francisco, looking to back up the words he put out there during the draft process.