Of all the traditions at Southern Cal, the wide receiver position continues to be among the elite each season.
From Lynn Swann to Keyshawn Johnson, and more recently JuJu Smith-Schuster, Robert Woods, and this year’s second round draft pick, Michael Pittman Jr., the Trojans have maintained interest from high school recruits.
The latest to join the Trojans’ program was Michael Jackson after revealing a verbal commitment on Wednesday.
USC was one of Jackson’s more recent scholarship offers after receiving one this past March.
“Really I’m going to USC to do my part to help win a National Championship in the 3-4 years that I’ll be there,” he said. “It was a given that I would choose a school with high academic standards, so that wasn’t really the deciding factor.”
The 2021 prospect pointed to the coaching staff instead.
“Coach Clay Helton, Coach Graham Harrell and Coach Keary Colbert are really putting something special together for the next two or three recruiting classes on offense. Coach Donte Williams, Coach Todd Orlando and the defensive staff, as you can see, have already been killing it on defense and will most likely have a top 5 recruiting class for the next 2-3 years, so I believe we will have the pieces to contend for a National Title. So that’s why I chose SC.”
Jackson became the second wide receiver to commit to the Trojans in the recruiting class along with Quaydarius Davis, who gave his verbal last month.
Besides USC, Jackson narrowed his list of top 11 schools to Tennessee, Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Cal, Kentucky, Minnesota and Utah during mid-April and added a Texas and Ole Moss offers later that month.
EVALUATION
On tape, the Desert Pines (NV) product adds a dynamic presence in space out of the slot and works the perimeter as well.
Solid hands with the ability to turn up field quickly.
Makes immediate decisions with the ball in his hands and gets downhill using the traits of a running back.
Productive on special teams as well in the return game.
Will also likely provide a physical presence at the position for USC.
