4-Star Donte Jackson Reveals Top 3, Decision Date: Where Does He Fit Best?

New Orleans standout Donte Jackson is ready to work his way toward a collegiate commitment. The 4-star recruit revealed his intentions to announce a decision on January 21, sharing those plans on Twitter:

Jackson, rated seventh nationally among "athletes" in 247Sports' composite rankings, is projected to play cornerback at the next level. Georgia, LSU and USC are all in the mix five weeks away from a decision.

The 5'11", 175-pound Riverside High School senior is among the most coveted prospects in another talent-laden Louisiana class. He was one of 16 players nominated for U.S. Army All-American National Player of the Year honors and is expected to compete in the All-American Bowl on January 3 in San Antonio.

Aside from his strong play in the defensive secondary, Jackson served as an explosive offensive weapon at Riverside. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 18 touchdowns this fall, per Amos Morale III of 247Sports.

Now that Jackson has shared his final three, let's explore each option.

Georgia

Jackson joined the Bulldogs on campus multiple times this summer, and a return trip to Athens now appears likely. Georgia certainly has a need at cornerback, especially since Rico McGraw flipped his commitment to Alabama in July.

Mark Richt narrowly missed on 5-star target Tarvarus McFadden earlier this season. The coveted defender decided to head to Florida State following serious flirtations with Georgia.

The Bulldogs helped address the issue this season by beating out several suitors for in-state defensive back Rashad Roundtree, but he's likely to land at safety in college. Deandre Baker, a 3-star Miami product, is currently the only Georgia commit listed as a cornerback by 247Sports.

Jackson would be a clear-cut top player at the position for Georgia in this class. A redshirt season seems unlikely anywhere, given his ability to at least make an impact on special teams, but an immediate role within the defense may be easiest to earn in Athens.

If Georgia fails to find a top-tier cornerback in this class, it may force Richt's hand when deciding whether 5-star athlete Terry Godwin belongs on offense or defense next season. A player like Jackson would likely allow Godwin to wreak havoc at receiver.

LSU

The Tigers have done an excellent job taking care of business on home turf when it comes to recruiting. Jackson is the latest in-state star to land on Les Miles' radar.

His most recent LSU visit occurred earlier this month. Jackson journeyed to Baton Rouge alongside fellow New Orleans prospect Tyron Johnson, a 5-star receiver who also lists the Tigers in his top three.

The duo are friends who've remained close throughout the recruiting process, so there's certainly a chance they could influence each other's decision. Johnson is expected to announce his collegiate intentions January 2 at the Under Armour All-America Game, setting the stage for Jackson to keep that choice in mind during the final stretch of his recruitment.

LSU already holds a commitment from 5-star Jacksonville cornerback Kevin Toliver, who rates second nationally among players at the position in 247Sports' composite rankings. The Tigers are prepared to pair him in the backfield with 4-star Louisiana native Xavier Lewis.

Jackson could become yet another dynamic element of the LSU secondary, which may still potentially add 5-star cornerbacks Iman Marshall (California) or Kendall Sheffield (Texas). There's a chance this becomes a rather crowded situation, which is a great problem to have for Miles.

Credit: 247Sports

USC

This is an obvious outlier among Jackson's final group, given the Trojans' proximity to his home region. Still, we've seen USC snag premier prospects from every part of the country in years past, and a return to that success is key in Steve Sarkisian's efforts to return the program to prominence.

The Trojans, also a main contender for Marshall, already reached into Georgia this spring for 5-star offensive tackle Chuma Edoga, and a pledge from Jackson would provide further evidence that USC is on the rise after several years of scholarship sanctions.

Cornerback Isaiah Langley is among the headliners in a class that currently sits atop Pac-12 recruiting rankings. Sarkisian also secured a commitment from underrated Los Angeles County cornerback Taeon Mason.

USC has shown plenty of willingness to play freshman this year, due in large part to previous roster limitations. Adoree' Jackson, a top 2014 signee who possesses similar physical attributes to Donte Jackson, saw substantial playing time throughout his first season.

A commitment to USC would require Jackson to sacrifice his ability to frequently see family and friends on campus, but that thought is actually refreshing to young athletes sometimes. How he handles the idea of relocating across the country is at least as big a factor as what USC can provide him on the football field.

The Verdict

It's always tough to envision a heavily pursued prospect departing SEC territory, so USC is a definite underdog in this group. Most onlookers, including us, expect the recruitment to center on Georgia and LSU.

Miles and the Tigers have made Baton Rouge a welcoming destination for local recruits. Jackson would join a secondary that consistently sends talent to the NFL under the direction of defensive coordinator John Chavis.

However, if Jackson is looking for the right fit strictly from a football standpoint, it's hard to top Georgia. The Bulldogs have made defensive backs a priority during this cycle, and results have been mixed.

Jackson would join the class as its top cornerback commit, viewed as an immediate asset in Athens. It may not be his ultimate destination, but Georgia is an ideal place for Jackson to embark on his college career.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.