First rep wasn’t a completion, yet I still wanted to highlight the way Mickens navigates through physical contact. I’ll have much more on Mickens’ performance on Friday night. For now, i’ll show off a few of his reps caught on tape shown in the above video. He came down with one hell of a catch as well. 1st-Team All-Camp member at wideout.

In my humble opinion Southmoreland 2028 prospect Jackson Mickens Jackson Mickens 5'11" | 207 lbs | DL/TE Southmoreland | 2028 State PA was the MVP of the entire West Virginia showcase. This young man has a very bright future, I watched him perform with different position groups and the way he adjusted had everyone impressed. He is so smooth in his route running and I think the only pass he dropped all day was thrown into the soccer post. Mickens showed off his elite skills with the tight end/receiver and running back rooms, he is going to be a weapon this fall.

Southmoreland’s Jackson Mickens, out of PA, is a versatile athlete to keep an eye on in the ’28 cycle. Jackson is listed as a DL/TE for PRZPA, but worked out as a WR/TE, has played some RB, and looked solid in reps at safety. Mickens tested well with a 9′ broad jump, 4.8 40-yard dash, and 4.81 shuttle drill. Overall, this dude can ball and projects as a “just get this guy on the field” type of athlete. He is very consistent as a hands receiver, making sure to stick his mitts out to attack the ball in the air with the hand strength to haul in passes during contact. Very strong— he can fight through hand-fighting and jam attempts at the line of scrimmage. Very instinctive player who can identify how to attack DBs and pick up/defend route concepts when lined up on defense. Lots of upside!

Jackson Mickens Jackson Mickens 5'11" | 207 lbs | DL/TE Southmoreland | 2028 State PA is the heart of a Southmoreland team that is in the midst of a historic season. He is the type of player who is best described simply as a football player because no single position really captures how impactful he is. Defensively he lines up all over the front, capable of playing with his hand down as a defensive end or standing up as an outside linebacker. No matter where he is he brings the same motor and explosiveness. He wins with quickness off the edge, strength at the point of attack, and a nonstop effort that wears down linemen. He is constantly in opposing backfields and his pursuit speed allows him to chase plays down from the backside.

On offense Mickens is just as much of a headache for opponents. He fits into the grey area between athletic tight end and oversized wideout, with enough juice to line up at running back when needed. He has strong hands and body control to win in contested catch situations, and once the ball is secured he runs with a physical style that makes him difficult to bring down. Southmoreland has made a clear point of finding ways to get him the football because he is a game-changer whenever it touches his hands. His two-way value is one of the biggest reasons his team is making noise this fall.

6’1, 215 pounds. Self-reports some impressive lifting numbers. Currently attends Southmoreland HS. Ranked inside the top twenty last update, now one spot shy of a top ten ranking. Received offers out of Western PA usuals like Miami of Ohio and Akron.

One of the more intriguing 2028 prospects to unpack. Mickens is a relatively well known name for those in recruiting circles. I’ve heard about Mickens potential as an eigth-grader, Mickens is cashing in on the promising future ahead of him. Solid build for a prospect who I now deem to be much more versatile than previously thought. Mickens’s projection to the defensive front is an obvious one, yet attempting to uncover where he will thrive is tricky. I can see him serving a serious role as a traditional DE, I can see him growing into a OLB-type too. Where things get really tricky are when you factor into the equation his skills on offense. Mickens caught 40 balls for 485 yards and six scores, this is offensive production we cannot overlook no matter how impressive a defender Mickens might be. 11 sacs and 45 tackles to boot, this kid is showing signs that he can be molded into a legitimate two-way threat. Operates naturally with his hand off the dirt, can get depth in the backfield and utilize some bend to win off the edge. A kid his size and age is witnessed running streaks down the field, catching and coming down with 50/50 balls he has no business reeling in. I am now fully aware of the complete athlete Mickens is on the field. In the running for the class’s best EDGE prospect, although I don’t want to force him just to one position. I know schools are likely drooling over this kid’s alignment versatility. How Mickens grows/develops will likely indicate where his future collegiate position.

Jackson Mickens Jackson Mickens 5'11" | 207 lbs | DL/TE Southmoreland | 2028 State PA is a top-flight athlete who can play a ton of positions on the football field. He played as a wide receiver and as an edge defender last year. As a wide receiver, he showed a great ability to catch the ball. He was especially good on contested catches by going up high to make big plays. As an edge player, he used that same speed and athleticism to cause issues for opposing offenses. His speed off the edge is impressive as he constantly chases plays all over the field. Mickens is a legit athlete who has the skills to continue to shine.

Mickens was undoubtedly the best athlete I saw all weekend. His size and athleticism made defenders’ jobs very difficult. He was quick out of his breaks and could get open at every level of the field. Mickens had a feel to him that he knew he was the best player on the field and performed with great confidence and made plans when Motown needed them most.

The best prospect at the Winter Exposure Showcase in my eyes was 2028 Southmoreland (PA) DL Jackson Mickens Jackson Mickens 5'11" | 207 lbs | DL/TE Southmoreland | 2028 State PA who was flat-out dominant throughout the night. Ranked as the #3 DL in the 2028 PA class and Top 20 overall, Mickens looks like a great Edge candidate in the rankings given his size and athleticism he displayed at the camp. He performed at a high level in OL-DL 1-on-1s and is a gifted natural pass rusher, especially for his age. Mickens has great bend and can get very low on bigger offensive linemen to dip under them. He’s explosive off the line and too athletic for most tackles in 1-on-1s. Mickens even showed off in the skill 1-on-1s as well after swapping over from the big men side and wowed with his natural athleticism and ball skills making several highlight catches. He has a very high ceiling as a prospect and will undoubtedly be a future D1 prospect.