Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Tayven Jackson announced his transfer destination Sunday via Twitter, as the upcoming redshirt freshman has transferred to Indiana University.
COMMITTED🔴⚪️ #iufb pic.twitter.com/3znbtFjKT8
— Tayven jackson (@Tayvenjacksonn2) January 15, 2023
Jackson entered the transfer portal on Friday after one year on Rocky Top, just five days before the portal closed. It took the Greenwood, Indiana, native all of two days to decide he’s returning home.
The new Hoosier has four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting this past season.
Jackson’s addition is huge for Indiana considering the Hoosiers’ 2022 starting quarterback Dexter Williams suffered a knee injury in the Purdue game that that required surgery. Indiana has two other scholarship quarterbacks on the roster in freshmen Brendan Sorsby and Broc Lowry, neither of who saw noteworthy action in their first year in Bloomington.
The former Vol transferred after playing third string in his true freshman season, playing behind Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III. Next season’s outlook didn’t look any better for Jackson’s chances to get significant playing time, as Milton III and five-star freshman Nico Iamaleava would’ve likely played ahead of him.
Jackson’s transfer makes the Tennessee quarterback competition much less crowded heading into next season, as now it will just be a two-player race between Milton and Iamaleava.
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The 6’3″, 200-pounder saw limited action during his first year with the Vols, appearing in only three games. Jackson first appeared in Tennessee’s 59-10 season-opening win over Ball State, when the freshman had one rush attempt for no gain. Jackson’s first positive yardage came against Akron in the Vols’ week three win. Jackson completed both of his pass attempts for 28 yards and added a 1-yard rushing touchdown. The former four-star recruit also saw action in Tennessee’s win over UT Martin on homecoming, when Jackson logged one completion for nine yards and added a nine-yard rush.
In the UT Martin game, however, Jackson suffered an upper-body injury that kept him out for the rest of the season. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel was originally optimistic Jackson would be able to back up Joe Milton III in the Orange Bowl, but the freshman was ultimately inactive.
Jackson was the 11th Tennessee Volunteer to transfer out of the program this offseason. Only four have yet to find their new home in linebacker Juwan Mitchell, defensive back Romello Edwards, offensive tackle William Parker, tight end Miles Campbell and running back Len’Neth Whitehead.
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It’s Indiana University…IU