Two Return TDs Earn Adoree’ Jackson Pac-12 Player Of The Week Honors

Adoree’ Jackson was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week following his stellar display against Notre Dame with two return touchdowns.

In the least surprising Pac-12 Player of the Week selection of the year, USC’s Adoree’ Jackson was honored as the week’s most outstanding special teams performer after returning a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the Trojans win over Notre Dame.

Jackson’s display was arguably one of the greatest single game outings from a Trojan ever. He totaled 291 yards on just nine touches, scoring on a 52-yard swing pass, a 55-yard punt return and a 97-yard kick return.

He also converted a first down for the Trojans on a 12-yard bubble screen and finished with two tackles and two pass deflections as a cornerback.

The timing of Jacksons contributions were key in helping USC put away the Irish, bringing the Jeweled Shillelagh back to Los Angeles. His punt return in the second quarter helped blow the doors open as the Trojans took a big lead into the half.

Later his touchdown reception responded to a Notre Dame score to start the second half while his kick return with just seconds left in the third quarter all but sealed the victory for the Trojans. That play featured a broken tackle and a soon-to-be iconic hurdle on his way to the endzone and was named the Pac-12’s Play of the Week.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

Though other USC players have scored two return touchdowns in one game, no Trojan in recorded history has returned both a punt and a kick for a score on the same day.

This is the second time Jackson has picked up Pac-12 Player of the Week honors. He was recognized in Week 2 after returning a punt for a touchdown against Utah State.

The Pac-12’s Offensive Player of the Week was Oregon State’s Ryan Nall, who rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns as the Beavers ended Oregon’s eight-game winning streak in the Civil War.

Defensive Player of the Week honors went to Colorado’s Tedric Thompson. The defensive back had two interceptions, four pass break ups, a tackle for loss, three third down stops and a fourth down stop to help the Buffaloes clinch the Pac-12 South division title.