Being Named IU's Starting Quarterback is a Dream Come True for Tayven Jackson

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana head coach Tom Allen called redshirt freshmen Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby into his office after a Sunday morning walk through to deliver his news. It was news that all of Hoosier Nation has been waiting for, a decision on the starting quarterback position going forward.

“He just sat us down and he just gave us the opinion on who we wantef to move on with and he told me that he wanted me to be the starter and told Brendan to be ready” Jackson explained.

The battle for the starting had been ongoing since the start of spring practice when Jackson joined the Hoosiers. It ended on Saturday after Allen had a chance to review the game film from Friday night.

“I wasn't going to make a decision when we walked off the field. I wanted to be able to see the film, see everything, take a deep breath, evaluate it, and just make sure we were all on the same page, which we are.
So Saturday was the day you make that decision. And both players, yesterday, told them together, face to face, at the same time. Because we've been this way since the beginning with these two.” Allen said.

Jackson has had sky-high expectations given who his brother is and that he was a former four-star recruit and that pressure showed in his answer about his feelings about being named the starter.

“It’s a dream come true. It's everything that you want to you want to hear from a coach. You know come in here, it's been it's been a struggle, it's been hard going through a quarterback battle but you know that's life. So it's kind of like a it was a relief.” Jackson explained.

Jackson’s first start as the full-time will come in a familiar setting, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis where he played multiple games in high school for Center Grove.

“It's very exciting. It's a nice stadium. I think this is my fourth time playing in there. So you got to think thanks to the (Center Grove) Trojans, you know we've been there for three years straight and so I think it's it's nothing new. You know, we're just gonna go out there and you know, try to win a football game.” Jackson said.

The Hoosiers look for their second win of the season on Saturday against Louisville in Indianapolis.