Adoree’ Jackson’s Future at USC Football Could Be Tied to Track

Adoree’ Jackson’s track ambitions and the 2017 World Championships could keep the versatile athlete with USC football next season.

It’s been a given since the two stand outs arrived at USC that Adoree’ Jackson and JuJu Smith-Schuster would follow the same path as most other high-profile Trojans — three years in college then off to the NFL after their junior season.

Almost as soon as the 2016 NFL Draft concluded Jackson and Smith-Schuster were named on multiple “top prospect” lists, projected as first rounders in next year’s draft.

If any NFL teams were drooling at the prospect of adding Jackson to their ranks next year, however, there might be a slight hiccup in that plan.

Jackson isn’t sure he’s ready to leave USC for the NFL.

This isn’t the normal case of a star junior paying lip service to the idea of staying for his senior season.

When Su’a Cravens made up his mind to leave early after last season and when Smith-Schuster weighs his options this year, considerations did and will involve questions of legacy and potential earnings versus potential gains.

For Jackson, all of those things will come into play, but another factor exists — track.

Specifically, Jackson, who missed out on the Olympics in Rio, could have a chance to compete in the long jump at next year’s World Championships in London if he stays at USC for another season.

“I’ve got a lot of big goals and a lot of big dreams for myself and I know if I try to go to the draft, the World Championships are next year. I’m a rookie, they’re not going to let me do it,” Jackson said at Pac-12 Media Days.

Staying would mean the opportunity to further his accomplishments as a track athlete by competing at a major international event.

Clay Helton allowed him to skip spring practice to focus on his Olympic dream this season and it’s safe to assume the head coach would accommodate Jackson’s particular needs again in 2017 if it would ensure his presence in the fall.

On the other hand, opting for the NFL would mean fulfilling his football aspirations and tapping into the wealth and fame of the pros, but would require his track career to be put on hold.

Though a player like Marquise Goodwin was allowed to take time off from the Buffalo Bills to pursue a spot on the USA Olympics team this year, he is entering his fourth year in the league.

Jackson’s status as a rookie would almost certainly bar his participation. The World Championships will take place on August 4-13, right in the middle of NFL training camp and the start of the preseason.

Even the most understanding franchise would have reservations about letting a first year player taking time off for the long jump when he should be acclimating to the NFL.

And if they were willing to let him go, it would be impossible for Jackson to have such assurances in January when his draft decision would be due.

That would mean a long wait for the next opportunity to compete.

“I still have the next four years to go to the Olympics but do I really want to wait that long to not jump again?” Jackson wondered aloud. “I don’t know. That’s really weighing on my mind.”

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Jackson is a unique athlete and this is a very unique situation, but it could give the Trojans hope of retaining one of the special talents of this generation for an unexpected senior season.

The decision will be one to look out for once the 2016 season ends. It’s one that Jackson is already seeking guidance on.

“I talked to my parents a lot about it,” said Jackson. “They never push me to do anything. They always tell me to follow my heart and to pray about it.”

In the end, Jackson should and will do what’s right for him as a person and athlete. But while Jackson is praying for the clarity to settle on a decision one way or the other, USC fans can start lighting candles that the answer is stay.

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