John Jackson III commits to USC on Signing Day 2018

Three-star wide receiver John Jackson III, the son of USC legend John Jackson Jr., committed to USC on Signing Day 2018.

In the midst of rising up the recruiting rankings, USC Football added a Trojan legacy to the ranks with the commitment of John Jackson III.

The three-star receiver out of Serra tweeted his commitment, though it is unclear if Jackson is a scholarship commit for USC in 2018 or a preferred walk-on. Gerard Martinez of USCFootball.com reports that he will compete for a scholarship this fall.

He had a Top 5 including USC, Nebraska, UCLA, UNLV and Oregon.

Jackson ranks 95th among wide receivers in the class, but a similarly low ranking didn’t stop fellow Serra alum Deontay Burnett from lighting up the field for USC. With Burnett leaving for the NFL this year, Jackson will hope to be the next underrated Serra pass catcher to exceed expectations.

Jackson III’s decision to battle for a place at USC makes sense when you consider he is a third generation Trojan.

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His grandfather, John Jackson Sr., served as the Trojans’ running backs coach during the heyday of the Tailback U days, from 1976 to 1981. His efforts led Charles White and Marcus Allen to Heisman Trophy victories, while also paving the way for his son, John Jackson Jr. to become a Trojan wide receiver in the late 1980s.

Jackson Jr. was an All-Pac-10 selection on the Trojans’ 1989 conference-championship team and held the school record for career receptions until he was passed by Johnny Morton in 1993. He currently serves as the color commentator on USC’s flagship radio broadcasts alongside play-by-play man Pete Arbogast.

MORE SIGNING DAY: Tracking All of USC’s Class of 2018 Signings

The competition won’t be easy for Jackson III. Wide receiver is arguably USC’s deepest position going into the 2018 season and the Trojans have only strengthened with five-star Amon-Ra St. Brown and four-star Devon Williams joining up on Signing Day.