2. Jackson Powers-Johnson - C/G - Oregon
Background: Powers-Johnson is a former 4-star recruit out of Corner Canyon High School in Utah where he was team captain, two-way player and three-time state champion. He also lettered three times in baseball and wrestling. He has only been a full-time starter for one season at Oregon but burst onto the scene, winning the
Rimington Trophy and earning an unanimous All-American selection.
Strengths: Size, athletic ability, power, competitive toughness
Weaknesses: Inexperienced and didn’t face great competition in his one year as a full-time starter
2023 Games studied: Utah, Washington x 2, USC, Oregon State, Stanford
Best tape: USC
Powers-Johnson played this game with a noticeable limp but didn’t sacrifice any strength or power, sustaining the same level of play as every other game this season, despite the circumstances.
Overview: Powers-Johnson combined plenty of flash with highlight reel
blocks in almost every game that created buzz on the internet, but when you sit down to study his film, he had the substance to match the hype. At 6’3”, 320 pounds, JPJ has elite size for the pivot with matching explosiveness and power. He flat-out dominated the competition this season, making it difficult to find more than a handful of reps where he was really challenged. This is a testament to his ability but also the fairly weak crop of interior defensive linemen in the Pac-12 this season. Practice in Mobile can really solidify his status as a first-round pick given the expected spike in competition.
Grade: Year 1 starter (Late 1st/Early 2nd Round)
https://trenchwarfare.substack.com/p/2024-senior-bowl-ol-preview-rankings
Love the wrestling background and particularly the toughness. This team desperately needs toughness.