Adoree' Jackson looking for reasons to smile after first start for USC
Adoree' Jackson's deflection that led to a Leon McQuay III interception in the back of the endzone against Oregon State on Saturday brought jubilation to the majority of the 74,521 in attendance at the Coliseum.
But it didn't make the freshman cornerback smile.
In the grand scheme of things, it was a big play. USC had just taken a 14-10 lead and Oregon State was on the verge of regaining the lead with a Sean Mannion touchdown pass. The Beavers had driven 53 yards on eight plays at the time of Jackson's big deflection.
As it turns out, the Beavers didn't get any closer to reaching the endzone for the remainder of the night.
It was just one of a game-high two pass breakups made by the freshman in his first career start. He added a tackle as well while looking as comfortable as he has all season. Still, it wasn't a night that got him all excited.
Instead, it's the two hitch routes that were completed against him that stand out when he begins to assess how he played.
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"I did alright," Jackson said. "I mean the quarterback put the ball on the money. I can't knock him for that. I give me a 'C' until I do something to make me smile.
"I didn't do (anything) to set me above standards. I'm average right now."
Despite not being all giddy about his deflection that led to McQuay's interception as everyone else, it's something he can build on.
"It lets you know that you can make plays," Jackson said. "If you focus on your technique then your athletic ability is going to come through at the end and at that time I was just working on my technique and doing what the coaches wanted me to do and then I just made an athletic play."
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Being in the starting lineup is something the freshman doesn't want to relinquish after just one game.
"It's definitely something I want to hold on to," Jackson said of being in the starting lineup. "I don't want to just go out there and start and then slack off (and) get complacent. I'm still going to go out there hungry and just act like I'm not full and just keep eating."
Maybe, eventually, he'll find a reason to smile.
