Adoree’ Jackson brings the same focus to the football field and the classroom

Newly-signed New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson has three papers due April 5th.

He just signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Giants, but he is buried in school work for the two classes he is taking through USC on Communications and Economics and Introduction to Business. One paper is about the inner workings of a company, another is on Esports and the final one is on streaming services. Not long after the papers are due, Jackson will have to prepare for finals. He is projected to graduate next year.

It is unexpected for the Giants’ presumed No. 2 cornerback to be buried in school work shortly after signing a multi-million dollar deal. But Jackson applies the same motivation he has on the football field to his work in the classroom.

“I just want to get that degree,” Jackson said on Adam Schefter’s most recent podcast. “I want that paperwork so I can brag a little bit. A lot of my friends have their diplomas. They graduated and walked the stage. I played there but I didn’t actually graduate so I just want to get that degree. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. It didn’t change when I got released. It’s still a milestone I want to achieve. I want to walk across the stage and have my parents come out and see me graduate.”

At 25 years old, Jackson said that the learning experience has been especially fulfilling.

“When you’re actually in the position to understand it and learn, it makes it more welcoming to learn,” Jackson said.

School has remained a consistent presence in Jackson’s life in the tumult of the last month. Jackson was cut by the Tennessee Titans on March 16 and then signed with the Giants on March 23. In a one-week span, Jackson went from living in Tennessee to being fired to signing a contract with New York.

“It was like a blockbuster weekend for me in a month,” Jackson said.

Jackson said that, upon first receiving the call from the Titans, he felt disappointed. But he did not let that disappointment derail him. Instead, Jackson went right back to playing dominoes and spades on his phone - games that he grew up playing with his dad.

“Life goes on,” Jackson said. “That’s what you realize is that it doesn’t stop. I just tried to count the positives out of everything instead of the negatives.

“I knew that when one door closes, another door opens,” Jackson said. “And I just kept my head down and tried to remain as faithful as I’ve always been. Just took it a day at a time, talked to my agent and heard the other opportunities teams were offering. It was a blessing in disguise. At the end of the day, even though it was an unfortunate event how it happened, another blessing was able to come my way. I’m appreciative of the Giants that they believed in me and wanted me to come there.”

The Giants have taken what some believe to be a bit of a gamble on Jackson by signing him to a three-year deal. Jackson played in just three games last season due to injuries and has just 12 starts in the last two years.

But he is not concerned about the naysayers. Jackson said that he is ready to reunite with friends on the Giants, including Leonard Williams whom he played with in college and Logan Ryan, whom he played alongside in Tennessee.

“That was helpful to have relationships with people there already,” Jackson said. “I’ve still got a lot of people to meet but having a little bit of comfort in that aspect is always good.”

Apart from a few trips to visit family in the New York area and running track at the Armory, Jackson is unfamiliar with the east coast. He is not worried about the change, though. Jackson was born in Illinois, played college football in California, moved to Tennessee to play for the Titans and will now get a taste of New York.

“I don’t want to worry about anything,” Jackson said. “Giants fan can expect a competitor.”