Tennessee quarterback Tayven Jackson has entered the transfer portal, per multiple reports on Friday.
Jackson is entering his redshirt freshman season after seeing limited time as a true freshman in 2022, playing behind Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III.
Jackson’s decision to transfer makes the upcoming offseason quarterback competition less crowded, as Jackson, Milton III and incoming five-star freshman Nico Iamaleava all figured to compete for the starting role. Now, the competition will be between Milton III and Iamaleava, barring a transfer portal add.
The former four-star recruit completed three passes on four attempts across three appearances this past season. Jackson played towards the end of Tennessee’s opener against Ball State, their Week 3 blowout against Akron, and their homecoming blowout win over UT Martin. In the UT Martin game, Jackson went 1-2 for nine yards and had two carries for nine yards before suffering an upper-body injury that kept him out the remainder of the season.
Josh Heupel was originally optimistic Jackson would be able to serve as Milton’s backup in the Orange Bowl, but the freshman was ultimately inactive.
Jackson’s best statistical day came against Akron, when the Greenwood, Indiana, native completed both of his two attempts for 28 yards and added a one-yard touchdown run on his only carry of the evening. His collegiate debut came against Ball State, when Jackson ran just once for no gain.
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The 6’3″, 200-pound pro-style passer excelled at Center Grove High School in Indiana, leading his team to back-to-back undefeated Class 6A state championships and 28 victories. Jackson earned a consensus four-star ranking across all major recruiting sites, and he was ranked as the No. 12 overall quarterback by 247 Sports Composite, No. 7 by Rivals and No. 14 by On3.
Jackson broke a plethora of school records, including career passing yards by throwing for 4,813 along with 47 touchdowns during his four years. On Jackson’s first title run in 2020, he completed 113 of 182 passes for 1,756 yards and 17 scores to go along with 46 rushes for 191 yards and six touchdowns. Jackson followed his 2020 title run with another in 2021, throwing for 152 yards on 12 of 14 passing and a touchdown in the state championship game against Westfield. Following the 2021 high school season, Jackson received an invite to the Elite 11 and was selected as a prestigious quarterback.
With Jackson redshirting in 2022, he now has a full four years of eligibility remaining.
