Jackson puts recruiting on the backburner

ST. PETERSBURG — Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football. Coaches will tell you that and the recruits feel that pressure from the media, fans, family and the coaches themselves. With just over a month until national signing day, this is the time where recruiting will turn white hot as coaches attempt to finalize their classes.

However, for one Under Armour All-American, who just finished the final high school game of his career, recruiting will take a back seat while he pursues another state championship on the track as a long jumper.

Adoree’ Jackson (5-10, 172, Gardena, CA Junipero Serra) has Olympic aspirations and would like to participate in the summer Olympics in two years. That means it’s on to the next season for this two-sport star. Wise beyond his years, Jackson will turn football recruiting over to his parents after he releases a new top six — of which he said Florida will be included — either Thursday night or Friday morning.

“The coaches, I let my parents talk to them,” Jackson said. “They’ll come see me to talk to me and my parents don’t get to talk to them, so I want my parents to talk to them and find out the information because they’re wiser than I am. With me being young, they’ll know more.”

Jackson said he will make a final decision on National Signing Day and that his parents will be instrumental in making that decision.

“I just chill, you know,” Jackson said. “Talk to my parents about everything. I let them talk to coaches. At this time I kind of know everything and know enough about the coaches and what they’re telling me.”

For now, Jackson was content to bask under the roof of Tropicana Field and soak in the moment. It will be the last time he plays a high school football game and as lights started to turn off in the rafters, Jackson looked back on the entire week.

“I loved it, man,” he said. “Just playing against and with some of the best athletes, you know, we’ll be playing against each other in college. Just reading up on each other. It’s an honor and blessing to have all these coaches and have my head coach come down and coach on my team and you know, finally get that last ‘W’ that we wanted. It was nice.”

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC