USC Twitter celebrated while NFL Twitter debated Austin Jackson’s selection.
USC football’s NFL draft count took a step forward on Thursday with the first-round selection of offensive tackle Austin Jackson.
Jackson was picked up with the 18th pick overall by the Miami Dolphins, setting off the usual storm of tweets that accompany draft day.
It was an emotional moment for many, from Jackson who now knows his home in the NFL as well as viewers of ESPN and NFL Network’s broadcast.
That’s because a centerpiece of the coverage around Jackson’s selection was around his bone marrow donation to his sister ahead of the 2019 season.
Jackson’s sacrifice is a great example of his character, but a first-round selection also shows the tremendous potential he displays on the football field.
That’s not to say everyone agrees on that potential. Jackson was one of the 2020 prospects who divided opinion.
So we took a look at just what people on Twitter were saying about Jackson and his future in the pros.
But first, here’s how USC’s official accounts announced the pick with stats and video:
Congratulations to USC OL @ChocoDro on being selected in the first round of the 2020 #NFLDraft!
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) April 24, 2020
Jackson is the 82nd first round pick in USC history.#FightOn | #USCtotheNFL pic.twitter.com/MUdSiVMSDe
Austin Jackson is the highest drafted Trojan offensive lineman since 2012!
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) April 24, 2020
?: NFLN/ESPN/ABC@ChocoDro | #USCtotheNFL pic.twitter.com/4HEhjw9O16
Also, here is how USC coaches and players celebrated the pick:
Congratulations @ChocoDro! #TrojanMade #USCtotheNFL #FightOn pic.twitter.com/RChUogiBAo
— Clay Helton (@USCCoachHelton) April 24, 2020
Love it! Couldn’t have happened to better young man! Go be great @ChocoDro! #FightOn✌️ https://t.co/asLKwCegYu
— Graham Harrell (@CoachHarrellUSC) April 24, 2020
UNTOLD:BRUH WOULD GRAB US AFTER PRACTICE LIKE NAW WE STAYIN OUT HERE...LETS GET SOME MORE SETS IN RIGHT QUICK.. TRUE LEADER TRUE FRIEND YESSIR 73 CARRYING ON THE LEGACY YO NAME UP IN THE MEETING ROOM??? https://t.co/d1VaSl4ocE
— Jalen Mckenzie ? (@pcBjaypeez_) April 24, 2020
FINS UP!!!
— Alijah Vera-Tucker (@ALIJAHVT) April 24, 2020
LETS GOOOOOO @ChocoDro!!!
— John David Baker (@coach_jdbaker) April 24, 2020
Congrats to a great Trojan and even better dude!#FightOn✌️
Congratulations @ChocoDro ✌?? Miami got a great player and even better young man! If you don’t grind, you don’t shine! ✌??? Fight On! #USCtotheNFL #1stRounder #PROjan https://t.co/bGTkxny6Mr
— Tim Drevno (@CoachDrev) April 24, 2020
Now I am REALLY a big fan of what the #Dolphins ? are doing‼️ #Projans ‼️ Let’s Go @ChocoDro ‼️❤️? https://t.co/gtjzoxdKhw
— gavin morris (@DaGman7) April 24, 2020
Congrats @ChocoDro!! Best of luck in Miami and make sure to keep @CoachClarkDL in check! #FightOn ✌️#TrojanFamily pic.twitter.com/LNE6OTSzUw
— Joseph Wood (@USC_Woody) April 24, 2020
Salute @ChocoDro ✌?✌? Rumble young man Rumble! #FightOn #USCtotheNFL
— Viane Talamaivao (@CoachV_USC) April 24, 2020
Congrats @ChocoDro. Proud of you fam. #1of510 #USCtotheNFL
— Keary Colbert (@kearycolbert) April 24, 2020
Congrats Big Man! This is only the beginning. https://t.co/LiGS9WE4MT
— Mike Jinks (@CoachJinks) April 24, 2020
Yessir!!!!! Fired up for @ChocoDro !!! The @MiamiDolphins got a GREAT one!
— Sam Curtis (@_SamCurtis) April 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/TheRealDoubleMs/status/1253512786421809152
Lets go @ChocoDro !!✌???
— Rasheem Green (@ras_green) April 24, 2020
Yeesssss sir Fins Up!! ✌??
— Markese Stepp (@markese_stepp) April 24, 2020
@ChocoDro congrats to my dog man!
— trevor trout (@totaltroutmove) April 24, 2020
What did the media think of the pick? Everyone agrees Jackson is a project, but not everyone is on the same page about the wisdom of the selection:
"Austin Jackson is a project. It might take a year or two before he can actually become the player a lot of guys think he can be."@PriscoCBS isn't 100% sold on Jackson going 18th overall to the Dolphins.
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 24, 2020
Grade | C- pic.twitter.com/JLowiYtkBy
I like the Austin Jackson pick. If the Fins can develop him, he can be a solid starter
— Zach Oliveri (@Zach_Oliveri) April 24, 2020
Austin Jackson feels like this year's Billy Price. The 'we're so bad here we have to take the next one' pick
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) April 24, 2020
If you told me in 5 years that Austin Jackson was the best OT in this class, I wouldn’t be shocked.
— aaron (@VersaceCaesar) April 24, 2020
If you told me in 5 years that Austin Jackson was the biggest first round bust, I wouldn’t be shocked either.
The variance on him is HUGE
Don't have to wait any longer. There won't be a single pick I hate more on Day 1 of the #2020NFLDraft than OT Austin Jackson at No. 18 overall to the #Dolphins
— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) April 24, 2020
I wouldn't have taken him until Rd. 3, personally.
I know he looks the part, but he was not good at all last year.
Austin Jackson to the Miami Dolphins. Really good pick that helps Tua in protection as well. Really solid move by Miami in their second first rounder. Overall grade A
— Christian De Block (@ChristianDB122) April 24, 2020
Austin Jackson has incredible athletic gifts. He’s only 20 years old. I said months ago he could end up the best OT in this class. I’m a big fan. pic.twitter.com/k9YyNoziV5
— Rob Proffitt (@BreakinDownFilm) April 24, 2020
18th pick: Austin Jackson. I though Josh Jones may be the pick here, but they must have liked Jackson a bit more. I think he could wind up being a solid Tackle, but he needs to improve on strength
— Jacob Archer (@Jacob_Archer12) April 24, 2020
Dolphins- Austin Jackson
— Don Kopleone (@donkopleone) April 24, 2020
B+
I liked Jackson, and though this is a slight reach, Miami needed to take a tackle to protect Tua, and Jackson is high upside. pic.twitter.com/3W3pPz2xuD
As for Dolphins fans, reviews were just as mixed. Some were scratching their head. Some were downright unimpressed. But others fully embraced their new player:
Austin Jackson seems like a reach.
— Chris Gaddis (@ChrisGaddis10) April 24, 2020
Flores didn't look exactly thrilled there.
Jackson is a LT. Prefer Josh Jones over him if we went LT. Need a RT to protect Tua's blindside and an IOL now.#Tua #NFLDraft #NFL #MiamiDolphins #FinsUp #GoFins
When I saw the Austin Jackson pick but then remembered we got Tua at 5 pic.twitter.com/0HpxDyZx0n
— Mason Hatch (@MasonHatch16) April 24, 2020
I just have a feeling Jackson would have been there at 26 and Miami could have gotten something else at 18. Oh well
— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) April 24, 2020
Smartest pick we could've possibly made with the remaining players on the board. Not to mention he's only 20 years old which is insane. I love it. Welcome to Miami Austin Jackson. https://t.co/DB7p5NhjuP
— Daniel Otero (@OteroThe1) April 24, 2020
Austin Jackson is a great pick! What’s hells wrong with you all? We need OL help badly!
— Florida Sports Guru (@freakofins) April 24, 2020
Austin Jackson is the kind of young man you root for. Welcome to Miami !!!
— Kevin (@DOLFANKEV) April 24, 2020
I hope Tua and Austin Jackson are half as good of people as they are portrayed. I love that the Dolphins are drafting high character people.
— Heang Uy (@heanguy) April 24, 2020
It’s now Jackson’s job to prove his doubters wrong and to live up to the expectations of his supporters.
He is the first Trojan to be drafted by the Dolphins in the past 10 years. Patrick Turner was the last USC player to head to Miami on draft day in the third round in 2009.