BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – He’s coming home.
After a season in Tennessee, quarterback Tayven Jackson announced Sunday that he’s moving to Indiana.
“I love Indiana and it’s always my home,” Jackson told HoosiersNow.com on Friday.
Jackson attended Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana, where he won back-to-back Class 6A state championships. He holds the school record for career passing yards, completing 329 of 547 passes for 4,813 yards and 47 touchdowns.
Jackson, a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022, was ranked 198th overall and 13th among quarterbacks, according to the 247Sports Composite. He stands at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds.
Jackson visited Bloomington for the Indiana vs. Wisconsin basketball game Saturday along with Indiana football head coach Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Walt Bell. Jackson is the younger brother of Indiana basketball star Trayce Jackson-Davis, who scored 18 points with 12 rebounds, five blocks and four assists in Indiana’s 63-45 win.
Indiana Football Offensive Coordinator Walt Bell (left), quarterback recruit Tayven Jackson (center) and head coach Tom Allen (right) speak prior to the Indiana vs. Wisconsin basketball game Saturday, January 14 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana .
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He appeared in three games for Tennessee in a backup role in 2022. Overall, he completed 3 of 4 passes for 37 yards and rushed four times for 10 yards and a touchdown.
The addition of Jackson fills a large void in the Indiana roster heading into the 2023 season. Indiana quarterback Dexter Williams II showed promise late in the 2022 season with mobility and a strong arm, but suffered one in the 2022 season finale against Purdue Knee dislocation with significant structural damage. Williams underwent knee surgery this offseason and his timeline for his return is uncertain at this point.
With quarterbacks Connor Bazelak, Jack Tuttle and Grant Gremel, Indiana now has four quarterbacks on scholarships going through 2023 with real freshman Brendan Sorsby, new freshman Broc Lowry, Williams and Jackson.
On Dec. 21, Allen said the goal is to add a quarterback through the transfer portal, and an older one would be ideal. Those comments were made before Jackson entered the portal, which could have changed Allen’s plan of attack on the quarterback.
Jackson has only thrown four collegiate-level passes, so he doesn’t fit the bill of the veteran quarterback Allen originally wanted to land this offseason. It’s still possible for Indiana to opt for a transfer quarterback with starting experience, but with undeniable talent and four years of playing eligibility remaining, Jackson looks like Indiana’s quarterback for the future.
- TAYVEN JACKSON VISITS INDIANA: Former Tennessee quarterback Tayven Jackson, younger brother of Trayce Jackson-Davis, attends the Indiana basketball game with Indiana football coaches Tom Allen and Walt Bell. CLICK HERE
- TAYVEN JACKSON ON BROADCAST PORTAL: Tennessee quarterback Tayven Jackson, the younger brother of Indiana basketball star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, has entered the transfer portal. Jackson will be in Bloomington, Indiana for the Indiana vs. Wisconsin basketball game at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday. CLICK HERE
- INDIANA FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: Visit our Indiana Football Transfer Portal tracker for a complete list of Hoosiers who have entered the transfer portal, been drafted in the NFL, exhausted their college eligibility, and players transferring to Indiana for the 2023 season. We will update this list regularly during the off-season. CLICK HERE
- RECRUITMENT CLASS 2023: Indiana signed 16 players during the early signing phase on December 21, including 11 high school players and 5 college transfers. Here’s a full breakdown of each player, complete with quotes from manager Tom Allen. CLICK HERE
