Why Lincoln Riley hire could help Michigan Football land Domani Jackson

Five-star cornerback Domani Jackson has been a top target for Michigan football for two years. Jackson took his official to Michigan on September 11th for the Washington win. He returned to Ann Arbor last weekend unofficially for the huge win over Ohio State. He decommitted from USC on November 14th to give each school (USC, Michigan, and Alabama) he is still considering a fair chance.

USC made a splash hire when it was announced that Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley would leave for Southern California. Riley went 55-10 in five seasons in Norman. He won four consecutive Big 12 Championships from 2017-2020 and reached the CFP three times. Riley was also a great recruiter of California while at Oklahoma.

From the 2017-2021 classes, six four-star high school prospects signed with Oklahoma. However, Riley had turned it up even more in the 2022 and 2023 classes.

Five-star running back Raleek Brown, a teammate of Domani Jackson, is committed to Oklahoma currently. However, he may be looking to follow Riley to USC.

In the 2023 class, Oklahoma had landed commitments from five stars quarterback Malachi Nelson and athlete Makai Lemon and four-star wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. Nelson, Lemon, and Moore Jr. are teammates at Los Alamitos HS.

Nelson has already decommited and the way things are trending, Lemon and Moore Jr. may not be committed to Oklahoma much longer. Lincoln Riley will recruit Southern California very well but there are a few reasons why his hiring might hurt the Trojans with Domani Jackson.

Riley is an offensive coach

If you notice one thing Brown, Nelson, Lemon, and Moore Jr., have in common is they are all offensive players. Lemon is capable of a wide receiver or defensive back at the next level, but the fact that he is drawing comps to Los Angeles Rams wide receiver would lead you to believe his future is on offense. Riley is one of the brightest offensive minds in the sport and a great developer of quarterbacks.

However, his defenses have struggled at Oklahoma, particularly in some of the Sooners’ biggest games. Oklahoma allowed 54 points per game in its three playoff losses. Riley’s hiring may not move the needle for a five-star defender with aspirations of playing in the NFL. That is especially pertinent when looking at Oklahoma’s draft history.

Riley did not send many defensive backs to the NFL

In the 2021 NFL Draft, Tre Brown was a fourth-round pick and Tre Norwood was a seventh-round pick. They are the only Oklahoma defensive backs to be drafted under Riley.

Jackson is looking for a school that will help him to get the NFL and that is one of the reasons Alabama has emerged as Michigan’s main threat is because of Nick Saban’s track record and personal involvement with his defensive backs. Riley’s staff will be far behind Michigan or Alabama when it comes to sending defensive backs to the NFL.

In the last five drafts, Alabama has had nine defensive backs drafted, including standouts Eddie Jackson, Marlon Humphrey, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Trevon Diggs, and Patrick Surtain II. Michigan has sent Jourdan Lewis, Jeremy Clark, Delano Hill, Jabrill Peppers, David Long, Josh Metellus, and Ambry Thomas to the NFL. Daxton Hill is a likely first-rounder in 2022.

At Kentucky, Michigan defensive backs Steve Clinkscale was an excellent developer of talent and sent four defensive backs to the NFL, including three in the first three rounds. It was too easy to see how much improved Michigan’s secondary under Clinkscale. Riley will have to answer how well Jackson would be developed at USC.

Lincoln Riley’s arrival could spell the end for Donte Williams

In addition to being the hometown school, one thing USC has going for it in Jackson’s recruitment is his relationship with USC defensive backs/interim head coach Donte Williams.

Riley is still assembling his staff, but cornerbacks coach Roy Manning could join him. Meanwhile, Williams could be heading to Washington. It is unlikely that Williams will remain as associate head coach for a head coach that he does not have previous ties.

If Williams leaves, that could spell doom for the Trojans. Signing day is two weeks away and Riley’s new staff will not have much time to convince Jackson to stay home. With momentum after a big win, that could be just what Michigan needs to land Jackson. It just needs to fend off Alabama.