Adoree' Jackson: From College Standout to NFL Cornerback
Adoree' K. Jackson, born on September 18, 1995, is an American professional football cornerback and return specialist currently playing for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). His journey to the NFL was paved with exceptional performances both in high school and college, ultimately leading to him being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Early Life and High School Career
Jackson was born in Belleville, Illinois, and attended Belleville East High School during his freshman year. Subsequently, he moved to California before his sophomore year and attended Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, California. At Serra High School, Jackson showcased his versatility by playing numerous positions, including wide receiver, running back, defensive back, and return specialist.
Jackson's athletic prowess extended beyond football. He also played guard on his high school's basketball team and excelled in track and field. He won the 2013 CIF state championship and the 2012 state long jump title. His outstanding achievements earned him the titles of 2012 Cal-Hi Sports California Sophomore Athlete of the Year and 2013 Cal-Hi Sports California Junior Athlete of the Year. He was ranked by Rivals.com as a five-star recruit and was ranked as the number one athlete and sixth best player overall in his class.
College Career at USC
Adoree' Jackson's college career at the University of Southern California (USC) was nothing short of illustrious. He majored in communications with a real estate minor at USC. He played in 12 games as a true freshman in 2014, contributing as a cornerback, wide receiver, and return specialist.
2014 Season
As a freshman in 2014, he caught 10 passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns while returning 23 kickoffs for 684 yards (29.7 avg.) and two touchdowns.
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2015 Season
In the 2015 season, Jackson continued to excel, finishing with 27 receptions for 414 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Jackson placed fifth in the long jump (almost 26 feet) and 4th in the 4×100 meters 2015 NCAA outdoor track and field championship earning two All-American awards.
2016 Season
Jackson finished his career with the Trojans on a high note with a dominant junior season. He finished with five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on defense in 13 games, but that was far from it. Jackson was a weapon on special teams, returning 26 kickoffs for 767 yards (29.5 avg.) and two touchdowns while taking 20 punts for 315 yards (15.8 avg.) and another two touchdowns. As if that wasn't enough, he also caught two passes for 76 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Collegiate Accolades
Jackson's outstanding performance earned him numerous accolades throughout his college career. He was named Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. As a sophomore, Jackson earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors after forcing a fumble, registering eight pass breakups and returning an interception 46 yards for a touchdown. In 2016, he won the Jim Thorpe Award. Jackson finished his collegiate career with 15 total touchdowns scored four different ways: via reception (six), interception (one), punt return (four) and kickoff return (four). He also tied two NCAA records with eight career touchdowns on kick returns and nine touchdowns on all runbacks.
NFL Career
Adoree' Jackson's talent and potential made him a highly sought-after prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Tennessee Titans (2017-2020)
On March 22, 2017, Jackson participated at USC's Pro Day. On May 23, 2017, the Titans signed Jackson to a fully guaranteed four-year, $11.28 million contract that also includes a signing bonus of $6.34 million. He competed for a starting cornerback position throughout training camp.
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Jackson made his NFL debut in the season-opener against the Oakland Raiders, recording four solo tackles, two pass deflections, and 40 return yards in a 16-26 loss. During Week 2 against the Houston Texans, Jackson recorded his first NFL interception by picking off Deshaun Watson. He finished the 20-17 victory with 6 tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception. Three weeks later, he recorded his second interception by picking off Josh Allen in the narrow 13-12 road loss.
In the Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jackson had four tackles and 61 return yards in the narrow 22-21 road victory.
On May 1, 2020, the Titans exercised the fifth-year option on Jackson's contract.
Across four seasons with the Titans, Jackson played 46 games with 41 starts, registering 200 tackles (176 solo), six tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and 33 passes defensed. From 2017-2019, Jackson was one of the most consistent outside cornerbacks. In his 11 games in 2019, Jackson's 17.4 percent forced incompletion rate ranked 12th in the league.
New York Giants (2021-2024)
On March 16, 2021, the Titans released Jackson. Subsequently, on March 23, 2021, Jackson signed with the New York Giants on a $39 million deal.
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In Week 16 of the 2023 season against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jackson recorded his first career Pick 6 on pass thrown by Jalen Hurts taking it 76 yards for a touchdown. In the 2023 season, he appeared in 14 games.
Philadelphia Eagles (2024-Present)
After his time with the Giants, Jackson signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Personal Life
Jackson is a Christian. Jackson's mom, Vianca Jackson, is a breast cancer survivor.
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