Junior outside linebacker Drake Jackson casually dropped into the flow of conversation Friday that this will be his last year at USC.

Or, at least that's the plan.

It's not at all surprising to hear that is Jackson's mindset -- he could be a high NFL draft pick if he delivers in a big way this fall -- but it was a notable comment nonetheless.

He was talking about taking on more of a leadership role in his third season with the Trojans, how the coaches are pushing him in that direction, how he also feels it's only natural for him to pass down some wisdom to the younger players, etc., when he seamlessly delivered the quote of the day after USC's seventh practice of fall camp.

"You kind of feel it yourself because it's my last year -- it's my money year," Jackson said. "Also, and you just kind of want to step up too because you've been here for so long and now it's time. You see guys come and go, you got a lot of information that you want to give so now it's time to give it."

A reporter followed up with Jackson to make sure he had heard correctly ...

"For sure, this is my last year. I got to get out of here. I'm going to leave with a bang too," Jackson said, reiterating his NFL intentions.

The third-year standout is among the most high-profile players and high-upside NFL prospects on this USC football team, but there has been little to write or say about him this month as he had to miss the first four practices of camp due to "health and safety protocols," which has become code for COVID cases.

He provided plenty of fodder to discuss Friday, though.

Jackson is now through three of the five NCAA-mandated acclimatization practices since his return, progressing from helmet-only the first two days to shoulder pads Friday. In fact, Jackson was one of the few players wearing any pads -- needing to take each step of that build-up to full pads -- as the Trojans ran through a light practice in advance of their first scrimmage Saturday in the Coliseum.

Even though the session essentially amounted to individual periods, special teams work and some quick 11 vs. 11 walkthroughs, there were plenty of notes and insights to take away from the day. In addition to Jackson, TrojanSports.com talked to USC defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, defensive line coach Vic So'oto, safeties coach Craig Naivar, nose tackle Stanley Ta'ufo'ou and linebacker Raymond Scott.

Watch those full video interviews on our premium Trojan Talk message board.

As for Jackson, the Trojans would like nothing more than for him to have the kind of season that propels him up NFL draft boards. Some early mock drafts indeed have him projected in the first round, and there's also every reason to think USC and its fans haven't seen the best of Jackson yet.

He's expected to be the tone-setter for a Trojans pass rush that could be the strength of the defense, and with 7.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss through two seasons, he has flashed his elite potential. But considering one of those was his true freshman season in which he would be the first to admit he didn't finish all the opportunities he created in the opponents' backfield, and the other a pandemic-shortened six-game schedule in which he was making the move from defensive end to outside linebacker while learning a new scheme, well, perhaps he put it best as to why this will be his "money year."

"Really just being free. Now I know how I can play in this defense and I can play around with the coverage and stuff. I can be more of a menace than last year," he said. "Because last year was the first time playing in that defense, being a linebacker, so I was kind of hesitant on some stuff and now I can really just go."

Once he gets back to full speed, that is.

Due to the time away, Jackson has some catching up to do both in terms of his body weight and his conditioning.

"I had lost a little bit of weight because I couldn't eat and so I was really just trying to focus on eating and just really doing anything I could inside the house, so pushups, sit-ups, anything I could," he said. "I'm definitely every day coming out here running and trying to get my breath up and really I feel like once I have my breath up I'll be able to go."

It won't be in the scrimmage Saturday as he continues that NCAA-outlined acclimatization process for a couple more practices, but soon enough the Trojans will reintroduce Jackson into a defensive front that also features redshirt senior Nick Figueroa, who led the Trojans with 3.5 sacks and 7 tackles for loss in six games last year, emerging sophomore Tuli Tuipulotu and five-star freshman Korey Foreman.

"I think Drake adds confidence to any defense that he'll play in, and definitely up front you'll look across and you'll see a Drake Jackson getting off the ball, that fires you up," USC defensive line coach Vic So'oto said.

While head coach Clay Helton said earlier this week that he wasn't the least bit concerned about Jackson being ready for the season after his late start to camp, it was still unideal for the star junior.

"It was horrible. Because football is life, you know, beside my family and friends and faith. So not being out here it's like part of my life [was] gone," he said. "So I didn't really like that. Being back out here, this is where I need to be."

For the next handful of months, at least.

Continue reading for our in-depth notes, observations and insights from USC's seventh practice of fall camp.

Redshirt freshman OL Casey Collier was absent for the third straight practice. USC offensive line coach Clay McGuire was asked about Collier's status on Thursday and deferred the question to Helton, who isn't scheduled to meet with reporters again until Monday.

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He was far from the only Trojans lineman missing Friday, though.

Starting center Brett Neilon and second-team guard Liam Douglas were also not at practice, and on the defensive side we didn’t see nose tackles Jamar Sekona (again), Kobe Pepe or Ishmael Sopsher.

Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said it was yet another “health and safety protocols” matter and they’d be back eventually.

"Everybody is good. Just waiting for those guys to get on back and we’ll be fine," he said.

It would make sense if contact tracing is involved that it would impact three players at the same position and two interior offensive linemen who go up against them, but we do not have any clarity regarding Neilon and Douglas' situations.

Collier's absence is believed to be unreleated, however.

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