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D E C E M B E R   3 0 ,   2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 9 When James Franklin watched the tape of Southern California's game against Notre Dame, a number of players stood out, but one player really stood out: Adoree' Jackson. That wasn't so surpris- ing. Jackson scored three long touch- downs against the Fighting Irish, reaching the end zone on a 55-yard punt return, a 52-yard pass reception and a 97-yard kickoff return. Without those scores, the visiting Irish might have given the Trojans a game; with them, Southern Cal romped to a 45-27 victory, its eighth win in a row. "You look at the Notre Dame game, and that's the difference," Franklin said. "They returned a punt and a kick for a touchdown in that game. They have guys who can hurt you in all three phases." Jackson is the Trojans' most versatile player, and possibly the most versatile player in the country. A 5-foot-11, 185- pound junior, Jackson has been a differ- ence-maker for USC in every phase of the game. The Trojans use him primarily at cornerback, where he has four inter- ceptions and 51 tackles. But he also aver- ages 30.5 yards on kickoff returns and 15.9 yards on punt returns and has four special teams touchdowns. He also plays offense occasionally and has 101 yards on only six touches. It's a blockbuster re- sume, and that's just the football section. He's also an elite track athlete who has twice won the Pac-12 long jump cham- pionship and qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials this past summer, finish- ing 10th to just miss qualifying for the Rio Games. But when the Heisman Trophy was awarded on Dec. 10, the only all-purpose athlete among the finalists was Michi- gan's Jabrill Peppers, whose numbers are mostly lower than Jackson's. Some have blamed that snub on USC's slow start, which kept the national media from pay- ing attention till late in the season. Oth- ers have cited it as another example of bias against Pac-12 teams, whose games frequently end aBer midnight on the East Coast. Whatever the reason, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Jackson doesn't have to worry about getting Penn State's attention. The Nittany Lions may have lit up a highly regarded Wisconsin defense in the Big Ten Championship Game, throwing for 384 yards in a 38-31 victory, but aren't taking anything for granted with their wideouts set to face one of the more talented secondaries in the country. Said Franklin, "When you're facing a guy who's the Thorpe Award winner, it's a little bit of a different ani- mal. They have tremendous length and athleticism and speed." USC coach Clay Helton has been a be- liever in Jackson from the start, describ- ing him as "one of the most special, talented athletes in the country." "For him to do what he did at the Olympic trials just blows me away," Hel- ton added. "To be one of the top 10 jumpers in this country, to be a finalist for the Olympic trials and then do what he does on the football field and be the type of person that he is – it makes you very thankful, as a head coach, that you have young men around just like these guys." Jackson's most devastating attribute is his speed. In addition to his victories in the Pac-12 long jump competition the past two outdoor seasons, he also fin- ished second in the 100 meters this year. But the Belleville, Ill., native is not just a track athlete who plays football. He's also an outstanding cover cornerback with 11 pass break-ups in addition to those four picks. In recognition of those skills, Jack- son was named the winner of the Thorpe Award and was also a first-team Walter Camp All-American and the Pac-12 De- fensive Player of the Year. But while he poses a major dilemma for opponents, he also posed one for his coaches this year. Given his versatility, they could have used him just about anywhere on the field. As a sophomore, he caught 27 passes for 414 yards, so he ob- viously had the skills to make an impact on the Trojans' offense this fall. But before the year began, Hel- ton talked to Jackson about fo- cusing on defense. The Trojans had some holes in their line, and the coaching staff figured the best way to shore up that unit would be to load the box with defenders and hope that their cornerbacks could contain opposing receivers in man-to- man coverage. They believed that Jack- son, with his tremendous speed and cover skills, would give them the security they needed in the secondary. They were right. Jackson came through for the Trojans this year, and in com- memoration of his great regular season, USC promoted him for the Heisman Tro- phy with a for-your-consideration video dubbed "Why not Adoree'?". It was a fair question, but Heisman voters didn't see it that way, choosing Louisville quarter- back Lamar Jackson for college football's highest individual honor. But USC's Jackson, a potential first- round draB pick if he forgoes his senior year, has another chance to make an im- pression on those who aren't yet familiar with his body of work. The Rose Bowl will give him his biggest platform to date, and his coaches believe he's ready for it. Said Helton, "Obviously he's one of the more special athletes in the country. That's why we're fortunate to have him here at SC." M A T T   H E R B | M A T T @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Jackson poses challenge in every phase of game Jackson was named the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defen- sive back. He is also a first-team All-American. The Rose Bowl could be his final game for the Trojans, as he is mulling whether to enter the NFL Daft. Photo by Percy An- derson

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