Domani Jackson committing to USC is 'Take Back The West' in action

USC football players celebrate.
USC football players celebrate. / Chris Gardner/Getty Images
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USC football landed the commitment of five-star cornerback Domani Jackson on Saturday, putting the 2022 recruiting class on a trajectory for greatness.

Jackson dropped a video on Twitter announcing his commitment. The Mater Deai star included Clemson, Arizona State, Michigan, Ohio State in his decision, but it was the Trojans who came out on top.

Momentum for Jackson seemed in Ohio State's favor. The fact that USC closed the deal quickly enough to lock in the commitment sets the tone for the entire 2022 recruiting cycle.

Domani Jackson is the type of recruit USC must keep home

Jackson isn't just one of the best recruits in the 2022 recruiting cycle. He's one of the most highly-rated in USC history. Along with ranking No. 3 in the 247Sports composite, he checks in as the No. 5 Trojan commit of all-time.

As a sophomore in 2019, he had 48 tackles for the Monarchs while picking off one pass for a touchdown and breaking up nine more, per MaxPreps.

At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Jackson has ideal size, with speed and physicality to boot. Brandon Huffman of 247Sports credited him with a "smooth backpedal and quick hips [that] make him a natural at cornerback."

Any top prospect out of Mater Dei or other local schools should be the first priority for USC. Jackson is even bigger than that.

The entire "Take Back The West" mantra repeated by USC's coaching staff is built on convincing prospects like Jackson that staying home is their best option.

USC failed to do that in 2019 with Kayvon Thibodeaux, who they let walk to Oregon without much of a fight. He's now wreaked havoc in the matchup with the Trojans two years running. In 2020, Bryce Young, Justin Flowe, DJ Uiagalelei and CJ Stroud all left California for programs like Alabama, Oregon, Clemson and Ohio State. Only one of the Top 29 players in the state landed at USC.

The Class of 2021 flipped that script when No. 1 overall recruit Korey Foreman jumped on board. He could very well bring No. 3 CA prospect Raesjon Davis along with him. Ceyair Wright, the No. 8 prospect, also jumped on board late.

With Domani Jackson in hand in January of 2021, everything about recruiting the class of 2022 should be that much stronger. He's a gifted prospect who has bought into the Trojans, even though there are still major questions hovering over the program. If he could be convinced, then the rest can too.

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Jackson is teammates with five-star running back Raleek Brown and wide receiver C.J. Williams, the No. 39 prospect nationally. His relationships with other talented recruits will hold some sway.

Of course, that's a double-edged sword. Having Jackson is massive. The Trojans must take care not to lose him.

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