Adoree' Jackson put USC through the ringer before committing. (Adoree' Jackson/Twitter)

Note: Jackson has sent in his national letter of intent, but it has not been received yet, so his signing is not official. 

Adoree' Jackson is a 5-star athlete and the No. 9 overall player in the ESPN 300. At 5’10 and 182 pounds, he runs a 4.48 40-yard dash and is an explosive impact player on both sides of the ball. Although at Junipero Serra High School he played both wide receiver and cornerback, his skill set is best fit for defense. Jackson’s athleticism and ability to change direction allows him to be a dominant cover corner. He will most likely be seen lining up on the field side of the ball with Josh Shaw on the boundary side. Not only will Jackson make an immediate impact in a pass defense that needs as much help as it can get, he is likely to also be used in blitz packages given his size and speed. His ball skills and awareness allow him to be a playmaker. With Dion Bailey gone, USC’s defense needs someone on the field that has the ability to force a turnover on any given play, and Jackson is that guy. 

Jackson is not only an outstanding defender, but he can also make an offensive and special teams impact. Jackson is a ballhawk with the speed and hands to make him into a successful wide receiver, a position group that, much like the secondary, could use some help after Marqise Lee’s departure and a limited number of scholarship players. In addition to offense and defense, Jackson is a force to be reckoned with on special teams. His lateral speed and vision with the ball in his hands make him an elite punt returner. Derrell Warren, SB Nation’s West Coast recruiting analyst compares Jackson to LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu due to his ability to make plays and be an immediate impact. 

Jackson brings a lot to USC Athletics, as he will not be just a football player. Jackson plans on running track at USC during the offseason. His impact on Troy will be felt immediately, and over the next three years it won’t be surprising to see him evolve into one of college football’s elite players.

SEE MORE: 2014 USC Recruiting Class: Skill Positions

The other big addition from National Signing Day to USC’s 2014 recruiting class is John “JuJu” Smith. Like Jackson, Smith is a multi-positional athlete. At Long Beach Poly, Smith played at both wide receiver and safety, but most scouts feel safety is the best fit for him. Smith is 6’1 and 200 pounds, the prototypical size for a college safety, and is ranked the No. 2 safety in the 2014 class according to both Rivals and Scout. 

Offensively, Smith is an excellent route-runner, and has the ability to contort himself to catch the ball while still maintaining control of his body. On defense, Smith has the ability to make plays against both the run and pass game. His size and speed allows him to come downhill fast and make plays in the running game, while his footwork, awareness, and ball skills allow him to knock down passes and make plays when the ball is in the air. His size and ball skills have allowed him to consistently win most 50/50 plays against receivers. 

Also part of this class is 5’11, 4-star cornerback Jonathan Lockett from Mater Dei. Lockett is projected to be a lockdown corner for the Trojans and contribute early on in his career. Like Jackson, Lockett is also an exceptional kick and punt returner who can add some spark to the USC special teams. 

Jackson and Smith may be the recruits everyone is talking about, but 4-star corners Rahshead Johnson, Lamont Simmons and John Plattenburg Jr. will make their impact too. Johnson is another multi-position player will most likely be playing cornerback as opposed to wide receiver when he arrives in Los Angeles next fall, although head coach Steve Sarkisian said Wednesday afternoon that he will begin at wide receiver. Johnson is another athletic player who is shifty and can make plays on the ball. Plattenburg, a cornerback originally committed to crosstown rival UCLA, is a physical defender who can play good press coverage and make big hits. Similar to current Trojan Josh Shaw, Plattenburg may even see time at safety as well as corner. 

SEE MORE: 2014 USC Recruiting Day: Defensive Line

The 3-star recruit Lamont Simmons is a 6’2, 185-pound defensive back from Raines High School in Florida. Simmons is praised for his speed and height, and the big athletic corner adds much-needed depth to USC’s thin group of corners.

Although both are solid recruits, unlike Jackson, Smith, and Lockett, they may not see as much immediate playing time. However, it won’t be long until they do. Jackson, Smith, Johnson, Simmons, Lockett and Plattenburg make up a talented USC secondary recruiting class, and over the next three to four years their names will be heard a lot. These six recruits, in addition to last year’s Su’a Cravens and Leon McQuay III along with Kevon Seymour, Josh Shaw, 2013 4-star cornerback Chris Hawkins and the return of cornerback Anthony Brown from injury, could make this year’s secondary one of the best in the Pac-12. 

Reach Staff Writer Jordan Schuchmann here or follow him here.