Adoree’ Jackson Says USC Comeback “Really On The Table”

Adoree’ Jackson says a return for his senior season at USC is “really on the table” but he will wait until after the Rose Bowl to make his decision.

From the moment Adoree’ Jackson put on the USC hat on Signing Day in 2014, there was an expectation that the Trojans would only get three years with the talented athlete.

When he entered the 2016 season with Heisman potential and ultimately fulfilled his exceptional ability with first team All-American nods, the assumption always remained that the call of the NFL draft would pull him away, just as it did Su’a Cravens and a host of other Trojans before.

But Jackson insists that what felt like a foregone conclusion to outsiders is no sure thing. He really is thinking about coming back.

“It’s really on the table,” Jackson told FanSided editorial director Michael Collins. “Some of you might think it’s blowing steam up somebody but for me it’s true.”

Not only is Jackson seriously considering a senior season with the Trojans, he says it’ll be his starting point when he sits down after the Rose Bowl to weigh his options.

“I haven’t made a decision, I’m still considering,” Jackson said. “So I haven’t even thought about it, but my first thought and my first mindset would be to come back.”

The prospect of Jackson’s return has always felt like a distant and improbable possibility, but the cornerback has reasons to stick around that go beyond football.

At Pac-12 Media Days over the summer, Jackson mused aloud about how track could play into his decision.

“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.

Coming back to USC for the 2017 season would allow the long jumper to pursue his dream of competing in London’s IAAF World Championships — likely his last opportunity to jump competitively  until a potential run at the Olympics in 2020.

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• 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

Draft evaluations could also come into play for Jackson. Early projections for his draft stock vary widely. Bleacher Reports Matt Miller ranks him at the No. 12 cornerback on the board with big questions marks while others expect him to go as high as the first round.

And Jackson continues to insist that something else could come into play beyond the pros and cons of football, track and the NFL.

“My heart is at USC and I feel like I always thought I’d be here four years,” Jackson said.

We’ll see where Jackson’s heart will lead him after January 2.