Meet Your Draft Pick: Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC

The Basics: 6'4", 271, 4.82 40. Co-defensive player of the year at USC his senior season.

First Impression: Too good to be true? He told Mitch Levy his biggest fault was that he "writes poetry." Sure, that's what Oscar Wilde said.

College: Jackson had a monstrous senior season, recording 10.5 sacks (best on the team) and 17 tackles for loss (also best on the team). He was National Defensive Player of the Week after USC's win at then-#6 ASU. In that game Jackson had four sacks, likely forcing Dennis Erickson to make that squinty confused face he used to when he coached the Seahawks. You know, this one. Jackson ended up making the All-Pac-10 first team, and second team All-America.

Action Jacksons: Lawrence is the fourth Jackson the Seahawks have drafted. The best picks were LB Michael Jackson (3/57, 1979) and, of course, D-Jack (3/80, 2000). Two other Jacksons were forgettable: 2005 draftee Tony Jackson (6/196), a tight end out of Iowa, tried to catch on as a fullback with the Hawks but was beaten out by undrafted Leonard Weaver. DB Ray Jackson (1988, 7/185) also never played an NFL down. The Hawks have also drafted four guys out of Jackson State, most notably Robert Hardy (1979, 10/267) who started 53 games at defensive tackle from 1979-82.

YouTube Delights: Here's Jackson harassing various Pac-10 QBs, but primarily Jake Locker.

The Analysts Said: ESPN's Scouts Inc. considered him a second-round talent.

He'll Be Measured Against: Derrick Harvey, who possesses almost the exact height, weight, speed, arm length and hand size measurements as Jackson, but went 8th overall. Also Philip Merling, who went four picks below Jackson to the Dolphins. And, to a lesser extend, Chris Long and Vernon Gholston, the two other DEs who went in the top ten.

Best Scenario: Jackson makes an impact as part of the D-line rotation in '08, and takes over for Patrick Kerney has the Hawks' main pass-rushing threat in a few years.

Bust Scenario: Jackson can't make the technique adjustments he needs to now that he won't be faster than opposing o-linemen, and can't provide the production the Hawks need from the DE spot.

Image via With Leather