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USC's Adoree' Jackson Wins Jim Thorpe Award For Top College Defensive Back

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Versatile USC cornerback Adoree' Jackson won the Jim Thorpe Award today as college football's top defensive back.

"To hear my name called is a blessing from everything that's been going on through the whole season and to finally be here is a testament to God," Jackson told ESPN's Chris Fowler after Thomas Everett, the award's first recipient, announced that Jackson had won.

The other two finalists were Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis and LSU cornerback Tre'Davious White. Jackson is a junior, while Lewis and White are both seniors.

Jackson is third in the nation in punt returns with a 15.9-yard average; sixth in kickoff returns with a 30.5-yard average and has scored touchdowns this season on offense, defense, returning a punt and returning a kickoff.

"He's one of the most football-smart guys I've ever been associated with," Trojans coach Clay Helton said.

Jackson received the award at The Home Depot College Football Awards at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

The award has been given annually since 1986. The only previous USC winner was Mark Carrier in 1989.

The award is named for Jim Thorpe, considered North America's greatest all-around athlete. He is a member of the college and pro football halls of fame, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who also played major league baseball
and professional basketball.

Thorpe died in Lomita in 1953 at the age of 65.

Jackson is among the four finalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy honoring college football's defensive player of the year who best exemplifies all the components of the IMPACT acronym -- integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity.

The trophy is named for Ronnie Lott, who played safety for USC from 1977-80 and for four NFL teams from 1981-1995, will be presented Sunday in Newport Beach.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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