USC Football Awards 2016: Adoree’ Jackson Repeats As Team MVP

Adoree’ Jackson repeated as USC football’s team MVP in 2016, while quarterback Sam Darnold, linebacker Cameron Smith and others earned honors.

At USC football’s annual awards banquet, Adoree’ Jackson took home team MVP honors for the second-straight season, becoming the ninth Trojan to do so.

In many ways Jackson was a shoo-in for the MVP award, having achieved unanimous All-American status and winning the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award on top of that.

Of course, there was competition for that honor from redshirt freshman Sam Darnold, who sparked the Trojans turnaround in 2016. Darnold didn’t get the MVP award, but he did nab the distinction as USC’s Most Inspirational Player and the Bob Chandler Award as an outstanding underclassman.

Unsurprisingly, Utah transfer Stevie Tu’ikolovatu was named USC’s Defensive Lineman of the Year. Zach Banner and Chad Wheeler shared Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.

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Other seniors were well-represented in the awards haul for 2016.

Receiver Darreus Rogers was voted Perimeter Player of the Year alongside Jackson and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Running back Justin Davis and safety Leon McQuay II got the Trojan Commitment Award.

Linebacker Michael Hutchings was honored with the Chris Carlisle Courage Award after overcoming the death of his father early in his career and becoming a team captain and starter in his final campaign.

Here’s a complete list of the awards handed out on Wednesday night:

Most Valuable Player: cornerback-wide receiver-returner Adoree’ Jackson

Most Inspirational Player: quarterback Sam Darnold

Trojan Way Leadership Award: inside linebacker Cameron Smith

Trojan Commitment Award: tailback Justin Davis, safety Leon McQuay III

Linemen of the Year: offensive tackles Zach Banner and Chad Wheeler (offense), defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (defense)

Perimeter Players of the Year: wide receivers Darreus Rogers and JuJu Smith-Schuster (offense), cornerback-wide receiver-returner Adoree’ Jackson (defense)

Special Teams Player of the Year: cornerback-wide receiver-returner Adoree’ Jackson

Service Team Players of the Year: tight end Cary Angeline (offense), outside linebackers Oluwole Betiku and Connor Murphy (defense)

Jack Oakie “Rise and Shine” Award (year’s most electrifying run): tailback Ronald Jones II

Player of the Game Vs. UCLA: wide receiver De’Quan Hampton

Player of the Game Vs. Notre Dame: cornerback-wide receiver-returner Adoree’ Jackson

Howard Jones/Football Alumni Club Academic Award (overall academic achievement): quarterback Max Browne

Bob Chandler Award (underclassman with outstanding athletic ability, academic achievement and character): quarterback Sam Darnold

John McKay Award (underclassman with the most competitive spirit): outside linebackers Porter Gustin and Uchenna Nwosu

Joe Collins Walk-on Award: inside linebacker Grant Moore

Chris Carlisle Courage Award: inside linebacker Michael Hutchings

Community Service Award: offensive tackle Zach Banner

Lifters Award: tailback Justin Davis, fullback Reuben Peters (offense), outside linebacker Porter Gustin (defense), special teams’ specialists

Captains: offensive tackle Zach Banner, quarterback Max Browne, cornerback-wide receiver-returner Adoree’ Jackson, inside linebacker Michael Hutchings