Film Room: Dennious Jackson

Kentucky has a need at nose tackle after senior Josaih Hayes suffered an Achilles injury during spring practice. The Wildcats looked for help in the transfer portal but were unable to address the position. Now a rare pivot to the junior college ranks has been made.

For the second time this offseason, Kentucky has landed a junior college transfer with multiple years of eligibility remaining to boost depth in the trenches. Anfernee Crease gives the offensive line another option at tackle. Dennious Jackson will give the defensive line another big-bodied option to use at nose tackle.

KSR’s Film Room is taking a closer look at the Contra Costa College (Calif.) transfer and what he can bring to the interior of Kentucky’s defensive front.

Point of Attack Power

The Evans (Ga.) Lakeside product will be on year three in college football when he arrives on Kentucky’s campus. Dennious Jackson brings size (6-5, 320) and play strength to the table. The competition in California was not great, but the junior college transfer has some two-gap potential as a run support player at nose tackle.

Jackson owns some knockback power, can split double teams, and win one-on-one in the run game.

Jackson does not project to be an impact player as a pass rusher, but shows off a nice long arm move and consistently flashes knockback power. Against combo blocks, Jackson plays with a good base and shows off some movement skills to split doubles up the middle. In isolation run fits, the defensive tackle gets extension somewhat easily versus junior college competition allowing him to shed blocks and makes some tackles.

There will be a huge step up in competition for Jackson in the SEC, but the size and power combo will give him a good chance to hold his own as a two-gap zero technique in Kentucky’s odd front.

Interior Depth

Kentucky’s defensive front looks very good on paper. The Wildcats have star power and experience on the defensive line and at EDGE. The same is true at off-ball linebacker. Defensive coordinator Brad White has a front seven that could become one of the best in college football in 2024.

But depth is needed.

The Wildcats need a run defender to play behind Keeshawn Silver so the rest of the pieces in the defensive line room do not get messed with. Dennious Jackson will be asked to play that role immediately. Kentucky will need the junior college transfer to hold his own at the point of attack and keep centers and guards from climbing to the second level. Jackson has the size, strong lower half, and punch power to potentially fill that role. Kentucky will not ask the transfer to play a ton of snaps, but they need him to become a serviceable backup to keep Deone Walker and others from playing out of position.

From 2013-16, Kentucky signed six junior college defensive line transfers. Za’Darius Smith is still getting paid in the NFL as the hit rate for quality starter/rotation player was strong among this group. Melvin Lewis and Naquez Pringle were similar under-the-radar recruits who did not have many options, but checked the size and power box. Each went on to play a key role in Kentucky’s 3-4 defense. The Wildcats are hoping Jackson will do the same.

Kentucky is now up to 13 scholarship players in Anwar Stewart‘s defensive line room. Dennious Jackson gives the room another 300-plus pound player to throw into a deep rotation.

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