Top Uncommmitted Prospect Adoree' Jackson Picks USC Over UCLA, LSU, Florida

Trojans pick up an electric playmaker that could help on either offense or defense.

By ShotgunSpratling Feb 5, 2014, 11:08am PST

Adoree' Jackson

Wide Receiver/Defensive Back/Athlete/Jaw Dropper
Gardena, Calif. (Serra HS)
Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 182

California's No. 1 overall prospect, Adoree' Jackson, chose to sign with USC football over crosstown rival UCLA and a pair of SEC powerhouses in LSU and Florida.

In a ceremony televised live by ESPNU, Jackson selected a cardinal and gold USC hat out of a bag that included a Gatorade bottle and high school memorabilia, including a pair of championship rings, in the Serra HS (Gardena, Calif.) gymnasium.

The 5'10", 182-pound Jackson was one of the biggest mysteries of National Signing Day. Fans of all four programs felt they had a legitimate shot to land the five-star receiver/defensive back, but it is Trojan Nation celebrating after his announcement.

Last night, Jackson (@AdoreeKnows) tweeted that he still wasn't sure where he'd be signing:

I'm glad I get to sleep on my decision because I still don't know haha !
— SWEET PEA (@AdoreeKnows) February 5, 2014

But on Tuesday, he decided to stay in the Los Angeles area. Jackson is originally from Belleville in Southern Illinois, just outside of St. Louis, but left his parents after his freshman year and moved to live with his sister, Lekisch Williams-Keene, and her husband so he could attend Serra HS.

Adoree' Jackson has all-world athleticism, evident by his record long-jumping abilities (he had the fourth best distance in the nation as a sophomore) and desires to make the 2016 Rio Olympics as a long jumper. But on the football field, he'll have the opportunity to contribute right away, regardless of where the coaching staff puts him.

He has the ability to be a dynamic receiver, following in the footsteps of recent Serra HS receivers Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and George Farmer at USC as well as Paul Richardson at Colorado. He is explosive with the ball in his hands with quick burst abilities similar to those of Lee and former Los Angeles-area recruit DeAnthony Thomas. But like Thomas, Jackson may be even better on the defensive side of the ball.

Listed as a defensive back by three of the four recruiting services (Rivals lists him as the No. 1 athlete), he is a unanimous five-star prospect, ranking between the No. 1 and No. 4 cornerback in the country. His athleticism allows Jackson to recover quickly whenever he makes mistakes, which should continue to dwindle as he learns better and better technique. He also is able to high point the ball well and turn pass breakups into interceptions.

While playing for Serra HS, Jackson lined up at running back, receiver, punt returner, kick returner and he was even the Cavaliers' punter. His high school head coach said the team calls him "Video Game" because he can do everything.

Here are the action-packed highlights from Adoree' Jackson's junior year. (Also, note you get to see a lot of USC early enrollee Jalen Greene at quarterback.) Wearing that No. 21 jersey, Jackson looks an awful lot like Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders when he gets the ball in his hands:

Here are his Adoree' Jackson's senior-year highlights as well. He's the type of cornerback that swing 12 points quickly when he takes a red zone interception and returns it to the house for a very long pick-six: