For nearly all of the 2016 college football regular season, the race for the Heisman Trophy (awarded annually to college football's most outstanding player) has been dominated by star Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson. His skillful blend of passing and running ability has tormented opposing defenses all season long, allowing Jackson to rack up 51 combined rushing and passing touchdowns, along with 4,928 total yards in 2016 alone. While Lamar has undoubtedly had one of the most impressive campaigns for a quarterback in recent memory, his team's lack of success and his poor play in recent weeks have opened the door for another Jackson: electric USC athlete Adoree' Jackson.
Adoree' Jackson is the reigning PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year for his defensive abilities at the cornerback position. This underappreciated spot rarely lights up the stat sheet, as effective corners usually defend very few passes. Jackson has all the skills of an elite shutdown corner, as he held number-one ranked Alabama's Calvin Ridley to just nine yards on two catches in the season opener. Additionally, Jackson had two interceptions against number-four ranked Washington's star quarterback Jake Browning (a fellow Heisman contender himself). These two picks proved to be the turning point in what would become Southern Cal's signature victory of their impressive 2016 season. Adoree' is much more than just a stellar cornerback in coverage, however; his 51 tackles display the fact that he is not afraid to come up and hit the ballcarrier. His defensive skill alone, in addition to being a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (best cornerback), Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Player), and Lott Impact Trophy (Best Defensive Player), show that he is worthy of Heisman consideration. However, Adoree' Jackson is so much more than just a good cornerback - he has proved to be one of the most athletic and special players the game of football has ever seen.
Adoree' has become the most dangerous special teams player since De'Anthony Thomas, and is a constant threat on any kickoff or punt return. Jackson returned 22 kickoffs in 2016, running two back over 90 yards for touchdowns, as well as averaging 30.5 yards per return. Additionally, he has returned 19 punts, with an average of 15.9 yards per return and two more touchdowns, showing that he is a constant threat at any moment. He is so tremendously gifted that he has even played wide receiver and scored a 52-yard touchdown on a screen pass against Notre Dame last Saturday, putting his jaw-dropping speed on display. Adoree' is a threat in all three facets of football, a quality that is extremely rare, especially in modern college football, where rest is essential, and most players will only ever play on one side of the ball. Jackson is the most talented football player I have ever seen, and it is beautiful to watch his natural athleticism serve as the glue that connects all three phases of our game. He is gifted in more ways than many could imagine, and he is the best player in college football.
Although Lamar Jackson's numbers are considerably better than Adoree's, one must consider the fact that because Lamar plays quarterback, he has an opportunity to score or rack up numbers every single play, as the ball always goes through the QB on offense. Adoree' on the other hand, has only had streaking opportunities with the football in his hands, and has made the most of nearly every single one, proving to be the best per-touch player in all of college football. Moreover, the 11th-ranked Trojans have had a much better year compared to the Cardinals, who have just lost their last two games to Houston and Kentucky, whereas USC has not lost since September. Although team success should not alone determine the Heisman winner, it is a factor, and it would be downright criminal to deny Adoree' Jackson the Heisman. He is pure electricity on a football field, and continues to leave a legacy as the most fun, exciting, and versatile player to ever set foot on the gridiron.
