Ex-Center Grove standout QB Tayven Jackson enters transfer portal, will visit IU

Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star
·3 min read
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Former Center Grove standout quarterback Tayven Jackson will visit Indiana on Saturday.

Jackson announced Friday that he was entering the transfer portal after his freshman year at Tennessee and quickly set up a visit at IU, where he will watch his older brother, Trayce Jackson-Davis, play basketball against Wisconsin at Assembly Hall.

“Trayce plays (Saturday) so I talked to coach (Tom) Allen about going to the game together,” Jackson said.

Center Grove High School senior quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) walks off the field after an IHSAA class 6A State Championship football game against Westfield High School, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Center Grove won 27-21.
Center Grove High School senior quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) walks off the field after an IHSAA class 6A State Championship football game against Westfield High School, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Center Grove won 27-21.

Was Allen agreeable to those plans? “Yeah,” Jackson said with a laugh. “He was.”

The 6-3 Jackson was one of the most highly-sought recruits coming out of high school at Center Grove, where he helped the Trojans to back-to-back undefeated Class 6A state championships in 2020 and 2021, setting the school record for career passing yards with 4,813 and throwing for 47 touchdowns. He committed to Tennessee in the spring of 2021.

Jackson saw limited playing time as a freshman for the Volunteers, competing 3-of-4 passes for 37 yards and running four times for 10 yards and a touchdown. He suffered a collarbone injury in a win over Tennessee-Martin Oct. 22 and did not see any further action. Tennessee, which played in the Orange Bowl this season, signed five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the 2023 class and has Joe Milton returning.

“I’ll always love Tennessee and it will be a place I always cherish,” Jackson said. “Every person down there, every coach down there – there’s no hard feelings. I just really started diving into my options and wanted to find out where I might have a chance to play.”

Jackson is obviously familiar with Indiana. The Hoosiers could also use an influx of talent at the quarterback position. Dexter Williams suffered a knee injury in the Purdue game that left him with “significant structural damage” that required surgery. The other scholarship quarterbacks on the roster are freshmen Brendan Sorsby and Broc Lowry.

“Obviously you want to go somewhere you have a chance to play and get on the field,” Jackson said. “And a spot where you feel wanted and a coach will do anything for you and want to develop you as a player.”

Jackson said his phone “has been buzzing” from several schools Friday. But there is some urgency to making a decision with the spring semester getting underway.

“There has to be because I need to get enrolled and start class,” Jackson said. “If I don’t go somewhere here soon, with some schools I would have to wait until May.”

Jackson was a four-star prospect coming out of high school with offers from several programs, including his other finalists – Arizona State, Florida State, Texas A&M and UCLA. Recruiting service 247sports ranked him as the No. 13 quarterback in the country in the 2022 class.

Jackson said “IU is not the only school that doesn’t have a set QB right now” and wants to keep his options open.

“I’ve always known about IU because Trayce has been there four years,” he said. “But it’s not really about familiarity for me so much. I know my brother has been there and been successful there, but it’s more about trying to find somewhere I can see myself and develop my game and get on the field and play.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: QB Tayven Jackson enters transfer portal; ex-Center Grove star eyes IU