Two-way collegiate football standout Adoree’ Jackson of USC is already being compared to Charles Woodson by experts.
The Metro East native stars at defensive back, wide receiver and kick returner for the Trojans. If he were eligible for this year’s draft, he would be a top 5 pick. Jackson grew up in East St. Louis, and attended high school his freshman year at Belleville East.
I recently had an opportunity recently visit with both of Adoree’ Jackson’s proud parents, Zianca and Christopher Jackson.
Adoree’ currently is having one of the best sophomore seasons ever for the Trojans, despite the recent controversy involving the coaching situation at the school. In only his second season at USC, Jackson has a total of 52 solo tackles to his credit on defense. On offense, he has 21 receptions for 417 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he’s one of college football’s most dangerous return men.
In his 18-game college career, Jackson has already amassed 992 total return yards and two touchdowns. His early career accomplishments have many professional scouts eyeing the former Metro East product for his game-breaking potential. In a nationally televised game against Notre Dame last weekend, Jackson had 193 yards of all-purpose yardage, including an 83-yard touchdown reception. He also had three tackles and a forced fumble on defense in USC’s 41-31 loss to Notre Dame.
Many are comparing Jackson to the great former Michigan star Charles Woodson, a former Heisman Trophy winner who starred on both sides of the ball with the Wolverines.
Adoree Jackson left after the summer of his freshman year at Belleville East. It wasn’t a planned move.
“My son was a good athlete at Belleville East,” recalled his father Christopher Jackson. “He was attending a track and field camp in California with his sister when some coaches were talking about another athlete’s jumping ability at the camp.”
Jackson was there to work on his technique when his sister told the coaches that her brother was better than the kid they were talking about. The coaches checked out some of Adoree’s jumps at Belleville East and were astonished that a ninth grader had so much going for him. Soon after the camp, some coaches ask Adoree’ if could they get in touch with his parents and talk to them about him moving to Southern California with his sister.
Adoree’ finished his high school career at Serra High School in Gardena, California, where he was first-team All USA Today player, first team Parade Magazine All-American choice, ESPN 300, and was named to the Prep Star All American Dream Team.
In addition to his football heroics, he was also a basketball and track & field standout while at Serra High. In track, he had an impressive mark of 25 feet 5 inches in the long jump.
Despite his burgeoning career on the football field, where he is in contention for many postseason honors, Jackson is also the returning Pac-12 long jump champion, earning All-American honors as a freshman. After the season, he will try out for the USA Olympic team.
“I wanted him to play at East St. Louis; we stayed there prior to moving to Belleville,” his father said. “But I didn’t think it would be a good fit with coach Sunkett. He doesn’t allow his football players to participate in track & field. And that wasn’t going to work for my son. We moved into the Belleville East district, and he started as a freshman. But opportunity knocked on a camp experience, just trying to get him some technique work during the summer. And the rest is history. He ended up moving with his sister.”
Adoree’ Jackson has credited his toughness on the football field playing for a prestigious football program like USC to growing up in East St Louis.
“My son always keeps up with what’s going on with Belleville East and East St. Louis athletics,” Christopher Jackson said. “I just wish he would have worn a Flyer’s uniform in football and track & field.”
