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Who is Tayven Jackson? Stats, 247 rating, more for Indiana backup QB

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Indiana football will need to rely on a backup quarterback to continue the Hoosiers' Cinderella run into the start of the 2024 college football season.

With ESPN's “College GameDay” traveling to Bloomington for the Indiana-Washington game and Kurtis Rourke dealing with a thumb injury, Curt Cignetti and Co. will turn to Tayven Jackson – a familiar name in Bloomington – for Indiana's game against Washington on Saturday.

Jackson opened the 2023 season as the starting quarterback before being replaced by Brendan Sorsby midway through the season. The 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore began his career at Tennessee before transferring to Indiana after his freshman season.

Required reading: IU football QB Kurtis Rourke is undergoing surgery for a thumb injury and may be back for Michigan State

Jackson will hope to keep the momentum going for the Hoosiers' red-hot offense, which is looking to improve to 8-0 for the first time since 1967.

Here's everything you need to know about Jackson as he prepares to start in College GameDay's Game of the Week:

Who is Tayven Jackson?

Jackson, Indiana's starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Washington, is a familiar name to Hoosiers fans.

Jackson was a four-star high school recruit who graduated from Center Grove High School in Indiana. He was ranked as the No. 198 player and No. 13 quarterback in the country in the 2022 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He also held offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn and others.

Jackson completed just 3 of 4 passes for 37 yards during his first season at Tennessee in 2022, playing behind starters Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III. He then transferred to Indiana prior to the 2023 season, where he was named the season-opening starter before being benched for Sorsby (who now plays at Cincinnati).

The 6-foot-4 passer completed 78 of 128 passes for 914 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions last season.

Jackson served as Indiana's backup in 2024 behind Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke, who was one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks this season. However, due to Rourke's injury, Jackson played the entire second half of the Hoosiers' win over Nebraska in Week 8, completing 7 of 8 passes for 91 yards with two touchdowns, adding 21 rushing yards on two carries.

Is Tayven Jackson related to Trayce Jackson-Davis?

Yes, Tayven Jackson is the little brother of former Indiana All-American men's basketball forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, who currently plays for the NBA's Golden State Warriors.

They both attended Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana, where Tayven Jackson played basketball before focusing exclusively on football. Tayven Jackson also coached in track and field at Center Grove High.

Tayven Jackson stats

Here are Jackson's annual college stats:

  • 2022 (Tennessee): 3 of 4 passes for 37 yards | Four runs for 10 yards and a touchdown
  • 2023 (Indiana): 78 of 128 passes (60.9%) for 914 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions | 28 carries for minus 21 yards with one touchdown
  • 2024 (Indiana): 12 of 18 passes (66.7%) for 225 yards with three touchdowns | Six runs for 36 yards, one touchdown

Tayven Jackson 247 review

Here is Jackson's recruiting ranking as a high school prospect in the 2022 class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings:

  • Stars: 4
  • National ranking: No. 198
  • Quarterback Rankings: No. 13
  • Indiana State Rankings: No. 7

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