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St. Louis Area Native Adoree’ Jackson Selected by Tennessee Titans in 2017 NFL Draft

By Patrick Karraker

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Adoree' Jackson (USC) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 18 overall pick to the Tennessee Titans in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Adoree' Jackson (USC) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 18 overall pick to the Tennessee Titans in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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USC’s Adoree’ Jackson became the most recent St. Louis area native to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

While the departure of the Rams has stolen most of the intrigue that accompanied the NFL Draft from St. Louis NFL fans, the presence of St. Louis area players still provides some reason for excitement. While he departed St. Louis many years ago for the greener pastures of Los Angeles, just like the Rams later did, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson became the latest St. Louis area native to be drafted on Thursday night.

Jackson, who played three seasons at USC, was taken by the Tennessee Titans with the 18th overall pick. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder may be limited to a slot role in the NFL, but he’s expected to provide a major impact in the return game.

Jackson grew up just over the river in Belleville, Illinois and attended Belleville East High School for his freshman year. However, he moved to to Gardena, California with his sister and brother-in-law before his sophomore season, and he played out the rest of his prep career there and ultimately stayed close to home by attending USC.

While the move may have been the best for his education and football career, it wasn’t one that he took lightly. As Gary Klein of The Los Angeles Times wrote in December of 2015:

"“Christopher and Vianca’s youngest son is unfailingly polite, but he noticeably recoils when characterized as a Californian. … During games, he wears eye-black emblazoned with “618,” the area code for Belleville and East St. Louis. ‘I always wanted to be a hometown hero,’ he says.”"

Next: Dolphins Take Mizzou's Charles Harris in NFL Draft

Jackson is the fifth St. Louis area native to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2009, following Ezekiel Elliott, Sheldon Richardson, Adrian Clayborn, and Jeremy Maclin.

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