After a rocking start, the Alabama Crimson Tide is steadily climbing up the recruiting rankings for the 2021 class. As things stand, that class is 25th (No. 7 in the SEC) according to 247Sports and 28th (No. 8) according to Rivals.com.
With eight commitments, Roll Tide Wire decided to break those pledges down player-by-player for you. Next up on the list is outside linebacker Ian Jackson out of Prattville, Alabama.
Ian Jackson, Outside Linebacker
Height: 6-1 / Weight: 210
High School: Prattville High School, Prattville, Alabama
Ranking (247Sports com): 4-star / No. 234 overall / No. 15 OLB / No. 8 AL
Ranking (247Sports): 4-star / No. 200 overall / No. 13 OLB / No. 8 AL
Ranking (Rivals): 4-star / No. 248 overall / No. 13 ILB / No. 8 AL
Ranking (ESPN): 4-star / No. 263 overall / No. 25 OLB / No. 8 AL
Analysis: When looking at Ian Jackson physically, he doesn’t seem like he’d have a future as an in-the-box player in the SEC. But when watching him on tape, it’s clear why high profile programs such as LSU, Georgia, Auburn and Tennessee were after the Prattville product.
Jackson is a fluid and natural mover in space, and he seems comfortable in a variety of roles including on the edge of the line of scrimmage, as an off-ball linebacker lined up in the apex and more.
It’ll be interesting to see how his body, which currently sits at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, develops physically, as playing at 230-plus pounds would be ideal. He is one of those linebacker prospects who could emerge as a playmaker if put in a position to work around opposing blockers and not necessarily through them.
Expect early contributions on special teams once he arrives in Tuscaloosa in 2021, but also don’t be shocked if he earned some sort of specialty package role as well.
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