Five-Star DB Domani Jackson Cuts List to Alabama and USC

Five-star cornerback Domani Jackson announced Tuesday night that he will decide between Alabama and USC. Jackson is rated as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 6 overall player per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He currently attends Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, the alma mater of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.

At 6-foot-1,185-pounds, Jackson is a big, physical cornerback with exceptional speed. As a junior, he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.25 seconds, tying the state record in the California Track & Field Championships. Jackson was in Ann Arbor this past weekend to watch Michigan take down Ohio State, but ultimately decided to go in a different direction.

“I like Michigan, it’s a great school with great people but end of the day, I just didn’t see myself there,” Jackson said. “It’s nothing against them at all, I just felt more comfortable at Alabama and USC and thought those two were the best choices for me in the long run.”

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The California native decommitted from USC on Nov. 14 after committing to the Trojans in January, but the recent hire of Lincoln Riley has put them back in contention for the All-American defensive back.

“Lincoln Riley has been blowing my phone up and that’s been impressive,” Jackson said. “With all that he has going on, for him him to take all this time to reach out to me shows me a lot. He wants to come in for a home visit but this week is pretty crazy so that will probably happen next week.”

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Despite his homeschool school gaining ground since hiring Riley, Alabama has left a very strong impression on Jackson. The Mater Dei product has visited Tuscaloosa twice this year, he took an unofficial visit in the summer and then his official visit the weekend of the LSU game. Since visiting the school in the summer, Jackson has raved about his time at the university as well as the coaching staff.

“Bama is Bama, what more can I say,” Jackson said. “I like Bama a lot and I have a great relationship with the coaches and the other recruits. I’m in the Bama group chat and talk all the time with Ty (Simpson), Jake (Pope) and all the guys, it’s a great group and we all get along really well. I have a great relationship with coach (Jay) Valai, the DB coach. We talk all the time and he’ll be coming out next week along with coach Saban and coach Wiggins for a home visit."

His father, Randy Lee also spoke highly of the program after his sons official visit. “The buy-in from all members of the staff stood out,” Lee said. “They are very welcoming and make everyone feel like family. The support of the football program was also next level. Coach Saban and Miss Terry were very welcoming and personable. You can see they genuinely care about their players and their families.”

With all of the movement from college coaches to new programs, one constant that will remain is Nick Saban at Alabama. The seven-time national champion agreed to a three-year extension in early June that will keep in Tuscaloosa through the 2029 season.

"With Alabama, you always know what you’re going to get," Jackson said. "Coach Saban isn’t going anywhere, he’s a defensive minded coach and they get guys to the league every year.

Eight defensive backs have been drafted in the first round in the Nick Saban era, including Patrick Surtain II who went No. 9 overall in this years NFL draft. Not to mention players like: Xavier McKinney, Landon Collins, Trevon Diggs and Eddie Jackson who were drafted in later rounds and have excelled at the next level.

"He's personally involved with the defensive backs and they have the best strength and conditioning program in the country," Jackson said. "It's hard but I like that, I know nothing is given but I'm confident in my ability and I'm not afraid to go out and compete and earn a spot."

Jackson is set to commit the first day of the Early Signing Period on Dec. 15 live on ESPN.