Adoree Jackson Named Pac-12 Defensive Player Of The Year

adoree-notre-dame-2016This comes as a mild surprise. Adoree Jackson was named the 2016 Pac-12 Defensive player of the year today. Sam Darnold was the Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year. Another surprise: Offensive tackle Zach Banner was a first-team offensive selection. So was offensive tackle Chad Wheeler. Jackson was selected as a first-team defensive back and return specialist.

Five Trojans were on the second team:  tailback Ronald Jones, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, offensive guard Damien Mama, defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu and inside linebacker Cameron Smith.

Darnold made also All-Pac-12 honorable mention along with defensive tackle Rasheem Green, defensive end Porter Gustin, safety Chris Hawkins, inside linebacker Michael Hutchings, tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe, cornerback Iman Marshall, safety Leon McQuay III and wide receiver Darreus Rogers.

The complete all-conference team is after the jump:

2016 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM

First Team Offense Second Team Offense

QB Jake Browning, So., Washington QB Luke Falk, Jr., Washington State

RB Myles Gaskin, So, Washington RB Ronald Jones II, So., USC

RB Christian McCaffrey, Jr., Stanford (2) RB Phillip Lindsay, Jr., Colorado

WR Gabe Marks, Sr., Washington State (2) WR Chad Hansen, Jr., California

WR John Ross, Jr., Washington WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jr., USC

TE Pharaoh Brown, Sr., Oregon TE Nate Iese, Sr., UCLA

OL Trey Adams, So., Washington OL Isaac Asiata, Sr., Utah

OL Zach Banner, Sr., USC (2) OL Sean Harlow, Sr., Oregon State

OL Garett Bolles, Jr., Utah OL Jeromy Irwin, Jr., Colorado

OL Jake Eldrenkamp, Sr., Washington OL Damien Mama, Jr., USC

OL Scott Quessenberry, Jr., UCLA OL Conor McDermott, Sr., UCLA

OL Chad Wheeler, Sr., USC OL Coleman Shelton, Jr., Washington

First Team Defense Second Team Defense

DL Hunter Dimick, Sr., Utah DL Hercules Mata’afa, So., Washington State

DL Tak McKinley, Sr., UCLA DL Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, Sr., USC

DL Elijah Qualls, Jr., Washington DL Vita Vea, So., Washington

DL Solomon Thomas, Jr., Stanford DL JoJo Wicker, So., Arizona State

LB Jayon Brown, Sr., UCLA LB Keishawn Bierra, Jr., Washington

LB Jimmie Gilbert, Sr., Colorado LB Koron Crump, Jr.; Arizona State

LB Azeem Victor, Jr., Washington LB Cameron Smith, So., USC

LB Kenny Young, Jr., UCLA

DB Budda Baker, Jr., Washington (2) DB Chidobe Awuzie, Sr., Colorado

DB Adoree’ Jackson, Jr., USC (2) DB Tedric Thompson, Sr., Colorado

DB Sidney Jones, Jr., Washington (2) DB Marcus Williams, Jr., Utah

DB Shalom Luani, Sr., Washington State DB Ahkello Witherspoon, Sr., Colorado

First Team Specialists Second Team Specialists

PK Zane Gonzalez, Sr., Arizona State PK Andy Phillips, Sr., Utah

P Mitch Wishnowsky, So., Utah P Matt Haack, Sr., Arizona State

RS Adoree’ Jackson, Jr., USC RS Dante Pettis, Jr., Washington

AP/ST Ryan Moeller, Jr., Colorado AP/ST Tony Brooks-James, So., Oregon

RS=return specialist

AP/ST=all-purpose/special teams player (not a kicker or returner)

(2) Two-time first team selection

Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Browning, QB, Washington

Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year: Adoree’ Jackson, DB, USC

Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Taylor Rapp, DB, Washington

Coach of the Year: Mike MacIntyre, Colorado

ALL-PAC-12 HONORABLE MENTION

ARIZONA: AP/ST Samajie Grant, Sr.; WR Nate Phillips, Sr.; WR Trey Griffey, Sr.

ARIZONA STATE: WR N’Keal Harry, Fr.; LB Viliami (Laiu) Moeakiola, Sr.

CALIFORNIA: PK Matt Anderson, Jr.; DL James Looney, Jr.; OL Steven Moore, Sr.; RB Khalfani Muhammad, Sr.; QB Davis Webb, Sr.

COLORADO: WR Bryce Bobo, Jr.; DL, Jordan Carrell, Sr.; WR Shay Fields, Jr.; OL Alex Kelley, Sr.; OL Gerrad Kough, Jr.; QB Sefo Liufau, Sr.; LB Kenneth Olugbode, Sr.; WR Devin Ross, Jr.; DL Josh Tupou, Sr.

OREGON: LB Troy Dye, Fr.; RB Royce Freeman, Jr.; OL Jake Hanson, Fr.; TE Johnny Mundt, Sr.; RS Charles Nelson, Jr.; OL Calvin Throckmorton, Fr.; K Matt Wogan, Sr.

OREGON STATE: DB Xavier Crawford, Fr.; DB Treston Decoud, Sr.; OL Gus Lavaka Fr.; RB Ryan Nall, So.

STANFORD: LB Joey Alfieri, Jr.; P Jake Bailey, So.; DB Dallas Lloyd, Sr.; RB Bryce Love, So.; RS Christian McCaffrey, Jr.; DB Quenton Meeks, So.; LB Kevin Palma, Sr.; Harrison Phillips, Jr.; DB Justin Reid, So.; TE Dalton Schultz, Jr.; ST Brandon Simmons, Jr.; PK Conrad Ukropina, Sr.

UCLA: WR Darren Andrews, Jr.; DB Randall Goforth, Sr.; Fabian Moreau, Sr.; DL Eddie Vanderdoes, Jr.; DB Jaleel Wadood, Jr.

USC: QB Sam Darnold, RSFr.; DL Rasheem Green, So.; DL Porter Gustin, So.; DB Chris Hawkins, Jr.; LB Michael Hutchings, Sr.; TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe, RSFr.; DB Iman Marshall, So.; Leon McQuay III, Sr.; WR Darreus Rogers, Sr.

UTAH: DB Chase Hansen, So.; DL Lowell Lotulelei, Jr.; DL Filipo Mokofisi, Jr.; DL Pasoni Tasini, Sr.; DL Pita Taumoepenu, Sr.; RB Joe Williams, Sr.

WASHINGTON: TE Darrell Daniels, Sr.; DL Greg Gaines, So.; DB Kevin King, Sr.; TE Drew Sample, So.; LB Psalm Wooching, Sr.

WASHINGTON STATE: WR River Cracraft, Sr.; OL Cole Madison, Jr.; RB Jamal Morrow, Jr.; OL Cody O’Connell, Jr.; LB Peyton Pelluer, Jr.; OL Riley Sorenson, Sr.

 

47 thoughts on “Adoree Jackson Named Pac-12 Defensive Player Of The Year

  1. Imatorbhebhe had 15 catches…not exactly honorable mention, but I think he will be a beast next year. I also thought Nico Falah was the most consistent O-Lineman this year.

    • Imatorbhebhe was beast this year and will stand out more next year when the OC targets him more. He was our best TE.

      Agree with you on Nico Falah. Apparently holding and false start penalties count towards the selection.

      • I agree. I just meant he had 1 catch in the first 5 games total. He did turn it on the 2nd half of the season. I remember seeing him in the Spring Game and walked away saying he is easily the best tight end on the team. Wonder what took so long…

    • I-Man ripped UW a new one on national TV. Big stage, GameDay, big performance – he’s a potential great TE who is already a very dangerous weapon. Darnold unlocked his potential because he is able to spread the ball around so well and find the open receiver., often while escaping for his life.

      • “I-Man” was so unassuming about it, too, in the interview. Maya had observed that Imatorbhebhe was an exceptional specimen of strength and skill who was going to break out. Maya got that one right.

        But just in general, USC over-recruited WRs, has a group to rival any other in the country, and Darnold is so effective in that short-to-intermediate range, and on the run that good things for USC seem inevitable

        I imagine that Ds find it extremely disheartening. They barely heard of some of these targets, but they’re all quite good in their own right, and it’s a long afternoon to keep tabs on all of them against an equal-opportunity exploiter like Darnold.

      • Think about the long odds against USC having Darnold now, and UCLA having Rosen. I have never seen two NFL prospects like this across town in L.A.

  2. Tremendous Honors for Seniors Banner, Wheeler, and Tu’ikodovatu. Also Honored are Hutchings and Rogers who were BOTH EXCEPTIONAL on the field of play the entire season. Thank you, USC Seniors, on the Number 10 Team in the Country !!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. Wolf, why are you surprised about Jackson? What I’m surprised about is that Ju ju wasn’t placed on the first team.

    • Ju Ju did have a somewhat off year !

      Injuries and a new Quarterback who spreads the ball around more often played that roll !

      But…

      Ju Ju Smith “is” the BEST Wide Receiver in the Country !!!

      FightOn

  4. How does one rate Defensive Player of the Year? Jackson has 41 solo tackles, 51 total, not the most on the team. He also has 4 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. Is that the best in the conference? He’s a great all round talent, but on defense alone is he the best?

    • Golden Trojan, no he is not !

      Cam Smith #1
      Porter Gustin #2
      Rashem Green #3
      Adoree Jackson #4

      They just pass out these things that make them feel all nice and warm inside ? !

      That said Adoree is the USC Trojan MVP, and He proved that last Saturday !!!

      FightOn

      • He is a team leader, the kid has a lot of charisma. What stands out is that great big smile of his, and he shares with all his teammates. He leads by his actions, and support of the other guys.

    • Golden Trojan, You have to take in to account that Adoree Jackson also shutdown the top WR in next years NFL Draft in Alabama’s Calvin Ridley. Even when we were getting busted up in the second half Jackson locked Ridley up and he was a non factor. The Utah game gets blown way out of proportion because the SC defense played really well for most of the game. The offense fumbled away big drives and the defense was put in a difficult situation. That last drive was on the entire defense. We couldnt hold them on 3rd or 4th down. Adoree just happened to be the fault guy. But he kept Shay Fields of Colorado in check and that was a tough team. He was challenged against Washington that for sure. John Ross is expected to be drafted in the top 15 somewhere. He happens to be faster than Adoree by the way. On the biggest stage for us this season Adoree bested Ross in what was a great matchup. Ross was making AJAX chase him all around the field going in motion. He scored on his deep ball. Adoree broke a deep ball leaping in the air showing off his leaping ability and closing speed. He finished up with a huge pass break up and 2 Interceptions that were meant for John Ross. Big Time Players Step Up In Big Time Games. He faced two All American WR’s and outplayed them.

      57 Tackle
      2 Tackles for Loss
      4 Interceptions
      11 Pass Break Ups
      15 Passes Defended

      That many tackles for a Cornerback is really good. When you consider that Adoree is small and the more the athletic

  5. Honors for USC Seniors Banner, Wheeler, Tu’ikolovatu, Hutchings, McQuay III, and Rodgers, all Leaders of the 2016 Number 10 USC Trojan Football Team. WELL DONE !!!!

  6. I just don’t see Banner getting the award he did. He is going to go maybe 4th round in the draft.
    MacIntyre deserved coach of the year easily.

  7. If you look at those Pac-12 selections, Washington has 14 guys on the 1st, 2nd or honorable mention teams that are coming back next year. I don’t know how many starters they have returning next year but these 14 made all Pac-12. I say this because I heard one college football pundit say that this years season shows that Pat Haden got it right and he is now off the hook. Clay Helton has done a magnificant job this year and you can’t help but hope that he has future success but PH passed up on Petersen and he already probably has them in the college football playoffs after just 3 years and he has a team coming back next year that could win the national championship. This year we will be either 9-4 or 10-3. That’s great but if we continue to go 9-4 or 10-3 while Washington is challenging for the national championship each year, then, let’s face it, PH made some bad decisions. I’m also interested to see how Orgeron does at LSU. If LSU also starts to challenge for the Natty, then PH is certainly is not off the hook because he passed over him too. It just goes to show you how remarkable the SC program is. No other program in the country could have survived the NCAA and Pat Haden.

    • Haden fixed baseball, basketball and it looks like USC football ain’t doing too bad since we just SMASHED UW in Seattle. Face it. USC just won the big face-off against Petersen. The Huskies got hammered by a superior USC team, unless you just want to pretend the game never happened. We humbled their 1st team All-Conf QB and made him look like dirt. Darnold’s already better than he is, but next year will be Darnold’s season season.

      Just because Haden wasn’t a good AD doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve some credit here. Swann will be much better, and he also deserves important credit for Helton’s progress, but no team in the U.S. has looked more dangerous than USC lately, and like it or not, Haden’s a part of that picture.

      Maybe when UW stops playing out-of-conference cupcakes, they might not look so good in the pre-season.

      • How dare you say anything in support of Haden?Don’t you know that PH is the spawn of Satan? You obviously are a person of low character and low intelligence.

          • It just gets tiresome to hear the same old drum beat. Did PH mess up the football program?–sure seems so. Does his handling of the non profit he worked for look slimy?–yes. But he is still an accomplished man and he has a great may supporters. But some folks on this site have a such a hatred for the man they cannot accept that PH is more than just a failed football AD. Fortunately Jack B is not one of those guys and he can appreciate a little sarcasm.

      • CH is a great guy. You can’t help wanting to see him succeed but one season doesn’t mean that much. At the end of the 2011 season I thought SC was the best team in the country. They couldn’t go to a bowl but their last game of the season was a 50-0 wipeout of UCLA. Most of that team was coming back. The next year many of the pre-season polls (like Sports Illustrated) had them number 1 in the nation. They ended up 7-6 in 2012 and lost to Georgia Tech in the sunbowl. The test will be to see if he can keep the momentum going in future years. going 9-4 or 10-3 is just not good enough at USC. Yes, they had a great year this year and they have a lot coming back next year. Hopefully, CH will become the next Dabo Sweeney, so I hope you’re right.

        • As a follower of USC football, I’ve learned to take things a week at a time. I have no idea if CH will be successful long term, though I’m confident we’ll be good with Darnold.

          When Sam leaves, we’ll see what CH can put together and how well he can recruit. He can’t be signing any more guys from Georgia who get homesick and leave. We need studs in the trenches. Hope CH can make that happen. Not sure though.

          I have high hopes for CH, but let’s see how he does in the Rose Bowl before we all take the next step.

          • The thing about CH is that his father was an O-line coach. He knows that football games are won or lost up front on the offensive and defensive lines. I don’t think Sark understood that but CH does. I think Sam is going to be the greatest QB SC has ever had. Assuming that he stays 2 more years and assuming that they can hang on to Clancy for 2 more years(knowing that Clancy has been known to prefer the pros to college), they have a window of opportunity in the next 2 years. The need to recruit well. They should be able to recruit well, being that right now they are a hot commodity. They also need to have 2 great seasons. If they don’t miss this window of opportunity, I think these coaches will probably be around for a long time. Lane Kiffin had the same window of opportunity in 2012. He missed his chance. Hopefully, CH won’t.

          • I don’t see Darnold staying after 2017. He’s already the best QB in the PAC. If he keeps progressing and with his size, arm, athleticism and brains, he’ll be ready for the NFL, more so than any QB we’ve had except Palmer. Were I Arizona, I’d draft SD after next season because Palmer’s about done.

      • I am not sure what to think of UW. UW destroyed Stanford including a 9:50 4th qtr TD drive, I’ll give them a pass on AZ, punt return to win against a good Utah on the road, and dominated everyone else except SC, who made UW look like they can’t compete with a real football team. Are we that good? Right now, probably. Is the rest of the Pac12, excluding UW Utah, Colo. and Stanford, mediocre to bad? Probably.

        • WA can’t match up athletically with USC right now. It may change in the future, but USC has the better athletes right now.

          Who will OR hire?

          Will WA’s recruiting improve a lot?

          Not unlikely.

          • Dan Mullen of Miss St.
            PJ Fleck of Western Michigan
            Jim McElwain of Florida

            were the names mentioned on sports center. They may have a shot at McElwain. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest according to ESPN. PJ Fleck’s name has become popular this season. I cant say i know anything about him.

      • Baseball is not back yet. No playoff this past season with a lot of good talent. Women basketball going nowhere fast. Even men basketball has not beaten anyone of note. Volleyball has regressed on both sides. Credit for hiring women soccer coach is biggest achievement.

    • Umm ?

      NCAA Sanctions, lost “30” Recruits

      Low Count on Redshirt Seniors, Seniors, Redshirt Juniors…

      Only caught up on the “Count” this year but the BS Sanctions will linger at least another 2 years (To catch up with everyone else who weren’t ripped off)

      Talent great, numbers not (Especially Defensive Line) !!!

      Can still Win though

  8. Congratulations Adoree!! He received the Votes of Pac 12 coaches..Also Mvp on Returns…I would say the coaches ,who watch the film , play against him AND the other teams. They are the most qualified to Vote.
    Congratulations Adoree..

  9. This sets up Adoree well for a better shot at the Thorpe or the Hornung. Maybe he’ll get lucky!

  10. Happy for Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, he took a calculated risk for his young wife and himself and their future.
    I hope he gets the Sunday payday he seeks.
    Blessing to him and his family.

  11. Oh and for the guy who hung in there Darreus Rogers.
    I loved his steady-Eddie play may the Lord bless his efforts in the future!

  12. 14 Washington players on this list. That indicates the Huskies had much more talent than any other Pac-12 team, including SC

    But the odds makers believe Colorado will give Washington a game on Friday night. It is 7 points Huskies on this neutral field, which means it would have been only 4 points if played in Colorado.

    • I don’t at all believe that WA has more talent that USC. If you compare their team performance on O and D with their recruiting rankings, WA is are among the biggest overachieving teams. That’s coaching.

      But they were unambiguously beaten AT HOME by USC. Most of us and most CFB observers were surprised, especially by the “unambiguous” nature of the outcome.

      Both teams knew it was THE big game of their respective seasons. WA did not lose because USC was better coached, prepared, organized, etc. They lost because USC has better athletes on its team, and those athletes were playing closer to potential, because of improving team organization and preparation. Herbstreit commented a few days ago that USC has three losses, but he thought it should count that they are improving as the playoffs begin. He’s an ex-OSU captain, yet he stated that if he were a coach assessing whom he least wanted to play, it would be Alabama (of course) and then USC. Consider that QB with those WRs and TEs, and he line blocking better for their savvy leader, and the reemergence of Rojo. Then add the D attacking and playing fast, and still energetic for the last third of the game (not so many three-and-outs from the O), and getting to play with a lead by then (which is easier), and in conjunction with an O that is still pounding the opponent’s D. The upshot is that there are only a few teams that can match up athlete-for-athlete with USC. WA is not one of them.

  13. Great list…..all players from all teams are deserving. I do want to point this out though. The coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time was when Ajene Harris intercepted the pass, and went and hugged Coach Helton.

  14. In all seriousness Nico Falah deserves some appreciation for the way he stepped in and played well all year long. For being the Center and the backup originally he came in and we never had any problems. And im sure he had the least penalties of our OLineman.
    Also Iman Marshall played his best football in the second half of the season and really started to show why he can also be a lockdown Corner. The DLine not getting much pressure in the first half meant that Adoree and Biggie had to be counted on to help generate some pressure for our DLine.
    The seasons not over but im saying it right here right now…….
    Next season Porter Gustin has 11 sacks. Rasheem Green has 8. Cam Smith will be more determined than ever and earn 1st Team Honors.
    One last thing…..Iman “Biggie” Marshall will have a better season at cornerback than Adoree had this season. He’ll have better stats and Pendergast along with Ronnie Bradford (Yes i said Ronnie Bradford) will challenge Marshall all offseason and all year to take that step up and play more consistant and lead the secondary.

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