Position Breakdown: Guard

1.  Zach Martin (SR) 6'4 308 Notre Dame
Analysis:  Tackle in college but projects best at guard.  Can fit in any scheme.  Strong with good technique and leverage.  Not a great athlete.  Needs to add weight. 
Projection:  Top 15

2.  Gabe Jackson (SR) 6'3 336 Mississippi State
Analysis:  Physical mauler who dominates in the run game.  Good athletic ability for size.  Long arms and heavy hands keep defenders off in the pass games.  Improved footwork could make him elite.
Projection: Day 2

3.  Xavier Su'a-Filo (SR) 6'4 304 UCLA
Analysis:  Good athlete whose fits best in the zone blocking scheme.  Excellent in space pulling and getting to 2nd level.  Needs to improve technique and strength.  Has position flexibility.
Projection:  1st Round

4.  David Yankey (SR) 6'6 315 Stanford
Analysis:  Physical blocker.  Good footwork and length to keep defenders at bay.  Able to pull and trap with ease.  Lack of good balance in a concern.  Lungs too often
Projection: 3rd or 4th Round

5.  Cyril Richardson (SR) 6'5 329 Baylor
Analysis:  Physical run blocker who moves defenders.  Strong punch and long arms aide in pass protection.  Average lateral agility is big downfall in pass protection.  Needs to manage weight.
Projection:  3rd or 4th Round

6. Brandon Thomas (SR) 6'3 317 Clemson
Projection: 4th or 5th Round

7. John Urshel (SR) 6'3 313 Penn State
Projection: 4th or 5th Round

8. Chris Watt (SR) 6'3 310 Notre Dame
Projection:  4th or 5th Round

9. Spencer Long (SR) 6'5 312 Nebraska
Projection: Day 3

10. Trai Turner (RS SO) 6'3 310 LSU
Projection:  Day 3

11. Dakota Dozier (SR) 6'4 313 Furman
Analysis:  Former tackle whose better suited at guard. Good athlete who can pull or trap. Lacks strength but good at the point of attack. Struggles to move laterally. Fits in zone scheme.
Projection: 4th Round

12. Ryan Groy 6'5 (SR) 315 Wisconsin
Projection: 6th or 7th Round

Player Profile: Gabe Jackson

Height:  6'3
Weight:  339
School:  Mississippi State
Position:  Guard
Ranking:  #2 Guard
Projection:  Top 40

Strengths
-Experienced.  Started every game since his freshman year.
-Battle tested.  Faced off against NFL talent game in and game out in the SEC
-Has the ideal frame of an NFL Guard
-Very aggressive firing off the ball.  Wants to take the contact to you
-Powerful blocker who overwhelms defenders and moves them off their spot
-Does a good job of blocking in the open field.  Both at the next level and in pulling
-Possesses a strong punch that can jolt a defender back
-Strong anchor that makes it difficult to bull rush.  Able to sink his hips quickly if getting pushed back
-Quick feet allow him to slide side to side to handle pass rushers
-Does a good job of passing defenders off and adjusting to the rush
-Uses his hands well to keep defenders off his body
-Scheme flexible.  Can play in either zone or man blocking schemes

Weaknesses
-Could stand to reshape his body and drop some weight.  Should be better around 315-320.
-Stamina.  Wears down as the games on
-Doesn't always keep his feet moving when blocking.  Leads to stalling out on some blocks
-Can look hesitant at times.
-Will overextend and lunge at times in pass protection.  Causes him to lose balance
-Isn't a nasty blocker that some want out of their interior lineman

Summary
Gabe Jackson is a very talented guard prospect that is going to excite many teams.  But to most he gets lost in the shuffle because his team struggled throughout the 2013 season.  However that doesn't take away from the talent Jackson possesses.  He's at his best in pass protection where he uses his long arms and strong punch to keep defenders at bay.  Jackson's lateral agility allow him to mirror the pass rushers and keep the pocket clean.  Jackson also excels in the run game where he explodes of the ball and can really be a mauler.  But his biggest weakness is his feet.  Jackson doesn't always keep his feet moving which causes him to stall out on blocks.  If he can get that fixed he should become an even better blocker in both the run game an pass protection.  Gabe Jackson is my second rated guard in this class and is nipping on the heels of Zach Martin.  He could go in the first round, but he's more likely to go somewhere in round two.