HawgBeat's top-20 countdown series previews 20 players who are expected to have the biggest impact for Arkansas football in 2023. The series will provide details on each player's measurables, their 2022 season, an outlook for 2023 and HawgBeat's take.
Checking in at No. 5 is junior defensive end Landon Jackson.
LANDON JACKSON
Position: Defensive End
Year: Junior
Height, Weight: 6-foot-7, 269 pounds
PFF Grade in 2022: 59.3
Snaps played in 2022: 725
2022 SUMMARY
A native of Texarkana, Texas, Jackson played his first season with the Razorbacks in 2022 after transferring from LSU. The former four-star prospect dealt with a torn ACL during his freshman season in Baton Rouge, but turned things around once he got to Fayetteville.
Last season, Jackson played in all 13 games with seven starts. In that time, he collected 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
In the season opener against Cincinnati, the 6-foot-7 defensive end made five tackles, half a tackle for loss and half a sack. In three straight games versus Texas A&M, Alabama and Mississippi State, Jackson combined for eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack.
2023 OUTLOOK
Going into the 2023 season, Jackson figures to play a huge role for Arkansas' defense. He performed well during the spring, drawing praise from Sam Pittman after the team's first scrimmage.
Pittman said he thought Jackson had "as good a day as he's had since he's been here" coming off the edge for the Razorbacks.
Now at full health and with another offseason under his belt, Jackson is primed to live up to his four-star ranking he received out of high school. Jackson said at SEC Media Days that he is up to 283 pounds after ending last season at 238 pounds.
"I think most of it is good weight because I'm moving faster than I ever have and am stronger than I've ever been," Jackson said. "I feel comfortable in my body and am ready for the season to begin."
HAWGBEAT'S VIEW
Jackson is the third defensive lineman and second defensive end to appear on our top-20 countdown list. He joins defensive tackle Anthony Booker Jr. (No. 19) and defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat (No. 14).
Jackson showed flashes of excellence in 2022 and should be expected to have an even better junior campaign under Travis Williams. In Williams' aggressive style, Jackson should be given plenty of opportunity to wreak havoc in the offensive backfield.
With his prototypical size and athleticism, Jackson has major breakout potential and has the capability to really build his NFL Draft stock up.
