The USC defense has said a practice goodbye to star sophomore cornerback Adoree' Jackson, but he won't be gone long. The two-way star spent USC's first 11 practices on defense, but spent the first of six practices on offense Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
That much practice time on offense suggests that Jackson's two-way role will be more balanced in 2015 than it was last season. Jackson primarily played cornerback in 2014 and did so with great effectiveness, but as a freshman, he wasn't called on for as much assistance on offense -- he caught just 10 passes for the year.
Reviews of Jackson's play on both sides of the ball couldn't be more positive.
"He's like a highlight film," said wide receivers coach Tee Martin.
An expanded offensive role for Jackson could be a boon for senior quarterback Cody Kessler, who lost a first-round NFL draft pick at receiver in Nelson Agholor.
"Not that he makes it up as he goes, but he always seems to make things happen," Kessler said. "You think you have him, you think he's down or you think he's out of play. And then, there he is."
Here are nine other things we learned around fall camps in college football on Thursday:
2. Mora on Mora. UCLA coach Jim Mora had some self-deprecating remarks Thursday about his open criticism of freshman quarterback Josh Rosen earlier this week. But he also stood his ground as part of the same answer. "It's ridiculous to me. This is football. I'm not going to change the way I coach just because there (are) fans and media out here," More said. "For a start, you're trying to put these guys in stressful situations. You're trying to test them. ... It's just part of the deal. Like I told him after practice, am I an (expletive)? Yeah, I'm an (expletive). Out here, I'm an (expletive). Sorry for my language, but I'm an (expletive) because that's my job -- to make sure that they get the most out of what God gave them and protect all that they've worked for and all that they're working towards."
3. Simmons from Down Under. All the way from Melbourne, Australia, LSU basketball freshman Ben Simmonsresponded to LSU football coach **Les Miles**' suggestion that the 6-foot-5 basketball star play wide receiver, too. Simmons is regarded in scouting circles as a potential future NBA lottery pick, and returned Miles' tongue-in-cheek suggestion with a tongue-in-cheek answer.
4. Gamecocks reckoning. Steve Spurrier is about to pick between two quarterbacks, which is always good for some cinematic value. The South Carolina coach is said to be nearly ready to announce a starter between Connor Mitch, Perry OrthandMichael Scarnecchia. Mitch is the safe pick, but nothing is especially predictable with Spurrier.
5. Paying tribute. Kansas State named its new locker room after one of the NFL's top wide receivers.
6. Smith on edge? Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith, one of the game's brightest stars, is modeling his game after some of the NFL's best pass rushers, past and present. But will he get to rush quarterbacks more in 2015?
7. More Mo. After taking his message of personal accountability and better behavior to Alabama, Mississippi State and TCU, Ohio State's fallen star Maurice Clarett took his speech where it was probably needed most Thursday: Florida State.
8. Alt uni craze done right. Arizona State will wear an alternate uniform for its opener against Texas A&M, and amid the sea of garish, arena-ball looking alternate uniforms, this one is a winner.
9. Gasket blown. Paul Petrino, brother of everyone's favorite coach at Louisville, found a way to get his Idaho program on college football's national radar: just berate a reporter so badly that he shares the experience online. Petrino later offered a rebuttal, apologizing for his language but denying that he threatened the reporter physically or verbally.
10. Rebel overcomes. Ole Miss defensive assistant Jason Jones has had to learn something new this year: how to communicate with a player who has a hearing impairment. At the same time, CB Tee Shepard, a junior college transfer, has overcome it well enough to put himself in position to start for one of the top defenses in the nation.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
