"The Fierce Edge Weapon Built to Blow Up Every Play in Sight"

Jackson Lawson

@jackson_laws27

6’2, 205lbs, Class of 2027

Cannon School, NC

Jackson is a one-man wrecking crew with electric instincts, dynamic speed, and the kind of explosive violence that turns an entire offense nervous before the snap. He plays the edge like a heat-seeking missile, diagnosing movement with crafty detail and attacking with fierce intent. Jackson creates chaos the moment the ball moves. His speed is rare. His first step is ruthless. His ability to bend, strike, counter, and finish makes him a nightmare for tackles who outweigh him by triple digits. What separates him from every other edge rusher is his mix of intelligence and pure fire. Jackson does not just chase a play; he devours it. Coaches know exactly what they get the moment he steps on the field. A relentless disruptor with violent hands, rapid reactions, and the football IQ to see the entire play before it happens.

The numbers don't lie. As a sophomore linebacker, he piled up 69 tackles with 11 tackles for loss. As a junior edge rusher, he erupted into one of the most productive defenders in the entire nation with 107 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks. His tackles for loss alone accounted for more than 160 negative yards, and he finished the regular season first in the state in sacks and fourth in the nation for the Class of 2027. His biggest improvement came from the confidence he now brings when triggering through the hole and exploding off the snap. This offseason, he trained like a future champion. Weight room work, speed sessions with an outside trainer, footwork sharpening, and truck pushing in the heat of spring and summer. Every rep became fuel, and every drop of sweat became a promise.

What fires Jackson up is the energy of teammates making great plays, the hunger that came after not winning every rep, and he feeling of knowing he has more to give. He studies quarterbacks, tracks pistol backs, breaks down and distance patterns, and waits for the moment his opponent reveals the truth with their eyes or stance. He is lighter than many edge rushers, but that becomes his advantage. He mixes quick strikes with crafty missteps that cause heavier linemen to trip or freeze, and once that happens, the backfield belongs to him. Adversity has sharpened him. The pressure of junior year raised his standard, and he answered by becoming light-years better. He seeks programs where he trusts the coaches, believes in the roster, and values academics first because he understands football will not last forever. With a 4.0 GPA and multiple AP classes, plus four seasons coaching youth flag football, he brings maturity, leadership, and intelligence that elevate everyone around him.

I assess that Jackson’s explosive acceleration, instinctive reads, and dangerous closing speed create immediate problems for any offense. His ability to win with movement, craft, vision, and technique allows him to defeat bigger linemen and collapse the pocket from multiple angles. Add in his academic discipline and leadership background, and he becomes a plug-in defensive asset who raises the entire standard of a college program.

Jackson has the ceiling of a future national standout. His production already matches top-tier prospects, and his growth is accelerating even faster. Expect his speed profile to keep elevating, his film study to expand, and his dominance to rise as he refines the tools that make him nearly impossible to block. He is a rising star whose best football is still ahead, and any program that lands him gains a defender built to alter games, shape culture, and lead with intelligence and fire. He should be on big boards everywhere. Stay tuned to see just how high he flies.