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USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson was named the winner of the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back.
Adoree’ Jackson joins Mark Carrier, who took home the award in 1989, as just the second Thorpe winner in USC history.
The Trojan beat out Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis and LSU’s Tre’Davious White.
Jackson had an exceptional junior season at cornerback. He nabbed four interceptions while adding 11 pass break ups, 51 tackles, two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery for 26 yards.
Notably, he shut down Alabama’s Calvin Ridley in USC’s season opener and ran down two ball carriers from behind to prevent two long touchdowns against the Tide. Facing off with some of the toughest receivers in the Pac-12, Jackson excelled by holding Shay Fields to just 32 yards and Michael Rector to a total of three yards.
Though he gave up a long touchdown to Washington’s John Ross, Jackson shook it off and grabbed two interceptions to help seal USC’s upset victory in Seattle.
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Thanks to his stellar play, coaches in the Pac-12 voted Jackson as the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was named a first team All-American by Sporting News, the Walter Camp Foundation and CollegeSportsMadness.com and also made the All-Pac-12 first team at cornerback.
Earlier this week Jackson missed out on a finalist place for the Heisman and was beaten out for the Paul Hornung Award by Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers.
With the national award in his grasp, Jackson’s place as one of the great cornerbacks in USC history is well earned.
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