Donovan Jackson impressing Ohio State with brains, brawn

COLUMBUS — Donovan Jackson didn’t enroll at Ohio State in January.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman from Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas) High School was one of just six 2021 signees to complete his senior year of high school. He arrived in Columbus in late May as one of 16 scholarship offensive linemen fighting for a chance to play meaningful minutes at Ohio State this season.

A 5-star prospect, Jackson knew that there’d be a theoretical adjustment to life in the Big Ten. It didn’t take long for him to see that adjustment in practice.

“The first rep I took in our team period was like: Oh my gosh, these guys are fast,” Jackson said Tuesday. “After that, [Ohio State offensive line] Coach [Greg] Studrawa looked at me and was like: ‘You’re here now. This isn’t recruiting anymore. You’re on the team, you’re on the field. Now you’ve got to produce.'”

And since that first rep, Jackson has done just that.

Yes, he’s trying to play catchup. But that hasn’t stopped him. He’s already burst into the Buckeyes two-deep, earning adulation and respect from coaches and teammates.

“He’s behind,” Studrawa told Lettermen Row. “But if he had the spring? The guy would probably be one of the best five or six right now because of what he’s done.

“It hasn’t shocked me because I know what the kid is. His ability to learn and translate that so fast and then play at a high rate of speed? It’s been unbelievable so far.”

Donovan Jackson’s work-ethic, intelligence and rare athletic talent has everyone in a muted form of awe as to not put too many expectations on him now. Last year, Ohio State captain Josh Myers said then-freshman Paris Johnson would win an Outland Trophy and that if he hadn’t it was something had gone wrong in his career. The hype around Jackson sounds, and feels, similar.

“Everyone has the expectation to be the best,” Studrawa said. “But with some guys, you can just see it. When people get to see [Jackson] actually play? They’re going to be amazed.”

The rest of the Ohio State offensive line share a similar opinion. Harry Miller, battling to be the Buckeyes starting center, sees the immense potential.

“Physically, he’s just so gifted and talented,” Miller told Lettermen Row. “His weight room numbers and performance, they were unreal all summer — but then he’s a super intellectual guy. He’s super smart and easy to talk to and he’s insightful and observational, so he picks things up really quickly.

“It’s not like he hasn’t made mistakes, but when he does he learns. ‘OK, let’s not do that again.’ He’s being a sponge. He’s very special.”

The offensive line is a developmental position. Few players have the physical tools and the mental acuity to make an impact as a true freshman. Fewer still have the ability to do that without early enrollment. Donovan Jackson is on that path.

“He’s been working hard,” senior offensive lineman Thayer Munford said. “And he’s stepped up a lot. He knows his playbook and knows how to actually use his body to move people — and he’s strong, powerful and quick as well. For him to be a freshman and doing all that says a lot. I don’t think he’s that far behind. He’s picking stuff up left and right.

“Whatever he doesn’t do right, he fixes the next day. That’s what I like about him.”

In today’s college football, with all the attention on recruiting stars and rankings, a lot of freshman arrive with over-the-top hype. That often leads to egos running unchecked and young players, who’ve not truly earned their stripes, talking more than they listen.

Not Jackson. Head down, eyes up, always.

“When he first got here, we heard about his athleticism,” Buckeyes guard Enokk Vimahi said. “But he takes criticism very well. He doesn’t view it as destructive, but constructive. He’s a guy that only speaks when spoken to, but he’s not not confident and knows when to say what he needs to and when it’s his turn to listen to others.”

Donovan Jackson has been listening. During the spring, he was eager to sit in virtually in as many Ohio State offensive line meetings as he could. He wanted to learn as much as he could, knowing full well he’d have a lot more to learn when he arrived on campus.

He’s learning now. The difference between then and now is clear for him.

“It’s a big difference,” he said. “[Studrawa] would just give the icing [in the spring]. When you got here, you’ve got the whole cake. I just had to take a scoop at a time and eventually I got used to that playbook.”

Like Paris Johnson a year ago, the expectations for Donovan Jackson are big. There’s no running away from them now. The hype train doesn’t slow down now.

“He reminds me of myself in that he’s very tough,” Johnson said. “When he came in here, his technique was really great and he’s a hard worker. He doesn’t question having to do more. It’s just ‘OK, I’ll do it. How do you want me to change?’

“His mentality as a young guy is really impressive.”