USC’s Adoree’ Jackson will now turn attention to track and field

After a 23-21 defeat by Wisconsin last week in the Holiday Bowl, USC’s Adoree’ Jackson will soon turn his attention solely to track and field.

Jackson said after the game that he would take some time off to let his body heal after the 8-6 season.

“I’m going to start soon,” Jackson said. “I’ll be out there practicing, just getting ready, but I don’t know about competing yet.”

Coach Clay Helton said during bowl practices that Jackson would be excused from spring football so that he could focus exclusively on track and field.

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Jackson’s commitment to USC’s 2013 recruiting class was coupled with a promise from coaches that he could seriously pursue both football and track and field, where his goal is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in the long jump.

Jackson won the Pac-12 Conference long-jump title as a freshman with a mark of 25 feet 3 inches.

At the NCAA Championships, he finished fifth with a jump of 25 feet 11 inches.

He must jump 26-5 to meet qualifying standards for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.

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