Five-star indicates another Oklahoma staff member joining Lincoln Riley, USC
Five-star Plus+ cornerback Domani Jackson recently narrowed down his list to two schools in USC and Alabama. Along the way, he appears to have suggested a previously unreported name will be leaving Oklahoma and joining Lincoln Riley’s staff at USC: cornerbacks coach Roy Manning.
Manning, hired in January 2019 as Oklahoma’s cornerbacks coach, was on the recruiting trail with interim head coach Bob Stoops as of Tuesday afternoon, representing Oklahoma — not USC. Three-star wide receiver Xavion Brice thanked Manning and other Sooners’ staffers for a home visit on Twitter, hours after Jackson suggested a conflicting story.
In an interview with 247 Sports, Jackson discussed his interest in USC and Alabama as he inches closer towards a decision. Riley, now with USC, apparently told Jackson that he’d like to send a few Trojans’ staffers his way for introductions, including Manning.
“He said he wants send in (defensive coordinator Alex) Grinch first and then he’ll come in later. I’ve heard from coach Grinch too and also Roy Manning, who was the DB coach at OU,” Jackson said, via 247 Sports. “I’ve been texting back and forth with coach Manning and looking forward to meeting those guys in person.”
Jackson told 247 Sports that he does not yet know Manning personally. But their text conversations implies that Manning is already putting in work in USC’s recruiting, despite not only still coaching for Oklahoma, but also simultaneously making home visits for the Sooners.
“He talked about their track record at Oklahoma for getting DBs drafted,” Jackson said of Manning, via 247. “He said they put three in the Draft the last three years with two starting in the League (NFL) right now. He said to give them a chance and said they’re about to do something special so I’m going to give them a shot for sure.”
Prior to his arrival at Oklahoma, Manning — a Michigan and NFL alum — served on Grinch’s coaching staff at Washington State. The year before Manning started under Grinch at Washington State, the Cougars’ defense ranked 99th nationally in total defense; within three seasons, Manning had helped turn around the defensive unit, improving to 16th in total defense.
While Grinch has already travelled with Riley to USC, where he’ll hold the same title as defensive coordinator, Manning remains with Oklahoma.
Jackson discusses recruitment with On3
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound five-star cornerback was formerly committed to the Trojans, but recently decommitted. Jackson has visited USC and Michigan multiple times and took an official visit to Alabama on November 6th.
Jackson, a Five-Star Plus+ cornerback from Mater Dei, has since trimmed down the list to two: Alabama and USC, which he is still considering after his decommitment.
Alabama is a winning program
“Coach (Nick) Saban produces DBs each year,” Jackson said. “He runs a winning program, and that’s why I came to Mater Dei (High School)— to play for a winning program and compete against top dudes every day that want to come in, work, and be great.”
USC is home for Domani Jackson
“USC is home,” Jackson said. “Coach (Lincoln) Riley is a great coach. He was always in the top five with Oklahoma, and I think he can do the same with SC. I believe that he can put the pieces together on the defensive side and make SC a playoff contender pretty soon.”
Domani Jackson is ranked as the No. 3 player in the On3 Consensus, which is a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.