USC Football: Adoree’ Jackson Named To Thorpe Award 2016 Watch List

USC football’s Adoree’ Jackson was named to the Thorpe Award watch list as one of the potential candidates to be picked as the nation’s top defensive back in 2016.

Adoree’ Jackson was among the 39 players named to the Thorpe Award watch list Monday, as one of the top cornerbacks in the country for 2016

This is the second time Jackson has made the watch list for the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s best defensive back. Last year he made the list but missed the cut for the semi-finalists.

Jackson enters his third season at USC as one of the premiere cornerbacks in the Pac-12 and on the edge of becoming one of the best cornerbacks the Trojans have ever produced.

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As a freshman Jackson earned a starting job just a few games into the season and was named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. In addition to a place on nearly everyone’s Freshman All-American first team, Jackson was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention.

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Last year Jackson was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and was honored at USC’s MVP for the season. He put in several top performances as a cornerback, receiver and returner, most notably logging his first career interception against Cal, which he returned for a pivotal score.

This spring Jackson sat out camp in order to focus on his pursuit of a place on the USA Olympics team. However, since he fell just short of making the cut, Jackson will be back to football full time for fall camp.

SEE ALSO: Adoree’ Jackson Misses Cut At Olympic Trials

Six players from USC’s opposition for the 2016 season also made the watch list including Colorado’s Chidobe Awuzie, Washington’s Budda Baker and Sidney Jones, UCLA’s Jaleel Wadood, Utah’s Marcus Williams, and out of conference foe Eddie Jackson from Alabama.

USC has just one Thorpe Award winner since it was first formed in 1986. Mark Carrier won the award in 1989, while Troy Polamalu and Taylor Mays were finalists in 2002 and 2008 respectively.