Texas quarterback signee Ja’Quinden Jackson is currently in the process of rehabbing a partially torn left ACL that he sustained in a playoff game against Rockwall and is expected to return to action later this year. Despite the injury, Jackson’s success will go down in the history books as he led the Duncanville Panthers to back-to-back title game appearances.
In addition to being a four-star prospect, Jackson is also the 5th ranked quarterback and 73rd ranked player nationally for the entire 2020 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He became the second class of 2020 quarterback to announce his commitment to the Longhorns (the first being Hudson Card) when he did so in June of 2019.
Senior Season Statistics (Via: The Dallas Morning News)
Passing: 1,711 passing yards and 21 passing TDs.
Rushing: 1,030 rushing yards and 16 rushing TDs.
Strengths:
Jackson’s athleticism is something worth watching and then replaying about 50 times. He possesses track speed, which is readily apparent as soon as he sees a gap in the defense as he glides past defenders with ease. In addition, Jackson often showcases his strength by frequently running over linebackers and dragging defensive backs with him when carrying the ball.
Jackson has a strong throwing arm and has no problem with airing it out downfield.
Needs Improvement:
While Jackson has no problem showing off his arm strength, it’s important for him to work on his accuracy as his passing game has been inconsistent. However, he will have an entire year to progress under head coach Tom Herman and newly minted offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, the latter of whom is coming off of a season coaching Heisman finalist, Justin Fields, at Ohio State.
What I See:
Ja’Quinden is a one of a kind talent that easily dominated the high school gridiron. He has the potential to be a game changer for the Longhorns, in addition to being an NFL Draft pick. In Jackson’s game, you can see glimpses of Longhorn greats such as Vince Young’s effortless speed and Sam Ehlinger’s run-you-over strength. Luckily for Ja’Quinden, he will have plenty of time to recover from his injury and become acclimated to the Longhorns system before he is actually needed at the quarterback position. However, after rising senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger graduates, Jackson will have to prove his worth in a quarterback competition to be named the starter for the 2021 season. If all else fails, Jackson has the athleticism to excel for the Longhorns at other positions.
