There wasn't a big hoopla or rigamarole when Justin Fuente let freshman Josh Jackson in on the fact that he would now be part of the quarterback battle moving forward.
"He kinda hinted at it a little bit, but probably around going into the second week, like mid-week he just said, 'Yeah, you're in the competition," Jackson said. "I wasn't really surprised."
Yet Jackson, speaking after practice for the first time since Fuente announced it was now a three-man race at quarterback, says he won't be disappointed if he doesn't ultimately get on the field this year.
"I came in just thinking I was gonna work as hard as I can and see what happens," Jackson said. "I'm obviously fine if I redshirt. If I play that'll be awesome. I just came in to see what I can do and try to be the best that I can be."
Indeed, he says he'll be "fine with it" if he stays on the sidelines this year. Yet he notes that for the last week he's been splitting reps equally with the more experienced contenders for the job, Brenden Motley and Jerod Evans, and he feels like he's getting more comfortable with Fuente's offense each day.
"This offense is real similar to my high school's offense," Jackson said. "Just being on the run, run-pass options, and everything like that. It really hasn't been much of a transition. Just getting to know all the different plays and everything like that, that's the main part you gotta get used to. But I think my skill set fits very well."
Jackson adds that he was hardly certain he'd be in this position as recently as a few months ago. After all, he was a bit unsure about where he might fit in with the Hokies once Frank Beamer decided to retire, leaving him with a new coaching staff to get to know.
"I wouldn't say I thought about going elsewhere," Jackson said. "I wanted to make sure I had a backup plan, 'cause I didn't know who the next coach was gonna be. I had to make sure that regardless, I was gonna be OK and that's what you gotta do during recruitment."
Yet Fuente instantly put him at ease, and he seems quite pleased indeed that he decided to stick around.
"Once I saw it was Fuente there wasn't much hesitation at all as I got to know him," Jackson said. "It was pretty easy."
Justin Fuente
OPENING STATEMENT:
"Yesterday we got good work in. Special teams in the morning and then team work in the afternoon. Good work again today. The kids are pushing through. These are the hard days, they are trying to push through. Still got work left to do, we're gonna have two shorts ones tomorrow and scrimmage again, I guess that's Saturday. I wanna invite our students to practice next Tuesday. We're excited that the students are back. They're coming back to campus and we want them to get a good sneak peak of us and all that kind of good stuff. They're a big part of our program."
ON IF HE HAS A DATE TO SET DEPTH CHART:
"We have personnel discussions all the time on both sides of the ball and now it involves the kicking game. Weather it's young guys that have a redshirt year left or whether it's the role older guys are playing and how much we foresee them playing on either side of the ball. There's several spots that are nailed down. All the names that you guys already know, for the most part. Still some competition at some spots to see how everybody really fits in. In general terms we have a good idea of where everybody's at but there's still a couple guys that we're trying to bring along."
ON ANY CAMP INJURIES:
"Our training staff's done a great job. Our kids have done a good job practicing the right way, staying on their feet when it's time to stay on their feet, it's just helped that process."
ON STEVEN PEOPLES' SUMMER RUNNING THE BALL:
"The term surprise, I don't really know, I've been pleased with him. He's physical, he's played well on special teams, he cares. He knows one speed and one speed only, and that's full speed. He's continuing to work hard and wear different hats on the offense and special teams. I don't if I'd call it surprised as much as pleased at his skill set and his determination and toughness and willingness to play the role."
ON THE MEETING WITH JOSH JACKSON IN MICHIGAN:
"Yeah, it was cold, I remember that. I just remember having what I thought was a great visit, and I hope that he thought it was, too. I enjoyed, obviously his dad's a lon time coach and he's got a great family. I was struck by his demeanor in a positive way. Just kinda how he carried himself and seemed to be mature beyond his years. He obviously is very close to his family and loves his family, and they have loved him dearly. That showed through in that, whatever it was, hour and a half in his home. I talked to him on the phone, but there's no substitute for a face-to-face meeting. I walked out of there really excited about, and hoping, that he was just as excited about us."
ON DIFFERENCES IN RECRUITING A COACH'S SON:
"There's a common ground when you walk in the door. There's a little bit of commonality there, I guess you could say, when you walk in and start that conversation. And obviously Coach Beamer and his staff, Josh is a mid-term guy, too, so it was a pretty urgent situation. The mid-term was coming up. Coach Beamer and his staff had spent most of the time with that. We were really playing catch-up to develop a relationship."
ON DEPTH AT DEFENSIVE END:
"I think we're still a work in progress there. I have seen some flashes from (Trevon) Hill, that he can help us, help this team. We're still working. We've got (Seth) Dooley back out there and (Houshun Gaines) back out there. Those guys are coming along, but there've been some good examples and then some obvious examples that we still have work to do."
ON FRESHMEN IMPRESSING SO FAR:
"Tavante Beckett is one that I think is gonna play a role on this team. Reggie (Floyd) will play some somewhere, we'll see obviously how much and all that kind of good stuff. Those are two of the early guys that stand out either on special teams or have a chance to compete to get to the two-deep. I'm pleased with a large portion of them. Divine Diablo's a true freshman that was here in the spring that just continues to seem like he gets better every single day.
Josh Jackson
ON THE POINT THAT FUENTE ADDED JACKSON TO THE QUARTERBACK BATTLE:
"He kinda hinted at it a little bit, but probably around going into the second week, like mid-week he just said, 'Yeah, you're in the competition. Just keep doing what you're doing.'"
ON IF HE WAS DISAPPOINTED ON EVANS AND MOTLEY BEING THE TOP TWO:
"Not at all. I thought (Evans and Motley) deserved it. Definitely. They're two great quarterbacks and I was the early-enrollee freshman that what, head was spinning trying to get everything down. I didn't disagree with that at all."
ON WHAT POINT THINGS STARTED TO SLOW DOWN:
"I'd say since camp has started, some things have started to slow down. Over the summer we did a lot of work on just like plays and coverages and everything so that's helped me a lot to understand everything and be able to slow it down."
ON WHAT HE FEELS HE'S IMPROVED THE MOST SINCE THE START OF CAMP:
"I'd say just being able to slow it down. I've really focused on coverages and knowing what defenses are doing and everything. That's made it a lot easier on me as a quarterback."
ON CONNECTION TO PREVIOUS STAFF AND THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW STAFF:
"I wanted to find out about Fuente and his staff so I researched them and everything. Within a day or two of just being hired he called me and then the first chance he got to come see me, he came and saw me. It was a really easy transition to be honest."
ON IMPRESSIONS OF FUENTE:
"I thought he was like, he's very businesslike and very focused on winning. I really liked it. I liked it a lot when he came to my house. It was just a good time hanging out."
ON BUILDING RAPPORT WITH ISAIAH FORD AND CAM PHILLIPS:
"I try to get as (many) reps with them as I can, like one-on-one and just routes and everything. I try to get in and get routes with them so I can work on timing and everything. Usually it's just that. During the summer we did a lot of 7-on-7 and everything. So that was mainly the time where we got to work on that type of stuff. Now it's just trying to get some reps with them and see how it goes."
ON THOUGHT PROCESS OF A NEW OFFENSE:
"You have to figure out the offense and see how you fit. I thought I would fit in both offenses. Scot Loeffler's and Brad Cornelsen's. I feel like I can fit in most offenses so I wasn't really worried about that. As long as it wasn't like a Wing-T or anything like that, I'd be fine."
ON IF HE WAS RECRUITED BY MICHIGAN:
"Yeah. They kinda offered me a scholarship as an athlete. Not to play quarterback. That's it."
ON WHAT PUT HIM IN THIS POSITION:
"I've been really starting to understand the offense and being able to slow it down and helping other guys out. Now I know it well enough that I can help other guys and know my job. I think that's really helped me be able to manage the offense."
ON HOW THE OTHER QUARTERBACKS TREAT HIM:
"They're awesome. We hang out and we all help each other get better and it's a real nice group. We all are trying to work to get better and we all try to help each other out. It's really good."
ON IF HE KNEW ABOUT FUENTE PRIOR TO BEING HIRED:
"No. As soon as he was hired he called me and I talked to him and it was simple. It wasn't really much of a transition. It was just like, here's the new guy. It's still Virginia Tech football. Still has a great tradition, so I was perfectly fine with it."
C.J. Carroll
ON HOW HE'S ADAPTED TO THE NEW OFFENSE:
"It's different. It's faster, more up-tempo. I like it a lot because you use the slot more, you use more receivers. It requires a lot more receivers."
ON COMPARISON TO THE TRUE FRESHMEN THIS SPRING:
"We're all working. We're all doing what we can do... I'm doing what I can do. They're doing what they can do so we're getting better every day."
ON WORKING SLOT OR OUT WIDE:
"We all move around so we know when we're in a game, stuff happens and you've gotta go out wide or someone has to come to the slot. We all know what to do. It's different than last year, so it's good."
ON THE COMPARISON TO WES WELKER:
"(I get it) a lot. Not a bad comparison. I like it. Shoot, that's a good person to be compared to."
ON HOW HE ENDED UP AT VIRGINIA TECH:
"I went to high school with Kendall Fuller. My senior year I never really had anywhere to go, so he kinda talked to Coach (Aaron) Morehead for me. Coach Morehead called me up and said, 'We're gonna give you a chance for a walk-on.' So I came here and now I'm here with you guys. It worked out pretty well."
ON IF HE'S WORKING ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
"I've been getting some punt returns in. Not on kick return, but I've been doing punt return a lot."
ON LEANING ON GREG STROMAN:
"Oh yeah. He's great at that. I expect a big year from Greg. It'll be fun to watch."
ON TRANSITION IN POSITION COORDINATORS:
"It's different, but it's good. Every coach has their own little niche that they teach you. It's been fun to learn from three different receiver coaches."
ON WHAT PART OF HIS GAME HAS IMPROVED THE MOST:
"Probably my blocking. I'm a smaller guy so I gotta have every single technical thing down to block the linebackers and these safeties in the slot. My blocking has definitely been a lot better."
ON IF THERE'S MORE BLOCKING IN THIS OFFENSE:
"I wouldn't say that. We're just working on it more and perfecting the craft. It's pretty much the same amount but you gotta block to play."
Steven Peoples
ON HOW MUCH WORK HE'S GOTTEN AT RUNNING BACK:
"I've been getting a little more than last year. Still not as much, because I'm working at (H-Back), mostly H, more than a running back, so I'm not really working that much at running back."
ON DIFFERENCE IN THE H-BACK POSITION COMPARED TO LAST YEAR:
"It's more like a tight end set back, so I'm in the tight end room instead of the running back room. It's like translating to basically being a tight end."
ON IF HE LIKES IT MORE:
"I kinda like it more. I like being out there, being able to catch balls and stuff like that."
ON HIS PASS CATCHING ABILITIES:
"I can catch a little bit. I go out there and work on the jugs machine a little bit. I've got pretty good hands."
ON JOSH JACKSON:
"He's just out there doing what he can do, showing them what he's got."
ON IF HE WANTS TO BE A RUNNING BACK OR AN H-BACK:
"It really don't matter to me. I'm just here to play wherever they want to put me. I'm gonna try to get on the field and do my best to help my team win."
ON OFFSEASON WEIGHT GOALS:
"I kinda wanted to gain about five more pounds. I'm sitting around 215 (pounds) right now. Trying to get to 220 (pounds)."
ON HIS SHAPE AFTER OFFSEASON PROGRAM:
"He has us running a lot so I feel pretty good. I feel like I'm in great shape right now."
ON WHAT THE EXTRA WEIGHT WILL HELP WITH:
"I feel like it will make me stronger. Make my pop stronger, dealing with bigger defensive ends and stuff like that."
ON HIS WORK ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
"Pretty much working with all special teams right now."
Sean Huelskamp
ON HIS OFFSEASON PROGRAM:
"I feel great. With the new strength coaches are doing, I think everyone's really got into it. I think, not just myself, but the rest of the team, everyone's made huge gains in the weight room. It's really translated to the field."
ON IF HIS WEIGHT GAIN WAS HARDER IN YEARS PAST:
"It's a goal every offseason, to get better, bigger, faster, stronger. We come out on the field and you can see the difference. This year's just kind of a different thing, dealing with injuries in the past, this year was just another one."
ON WHERE HE WAS AT LAST YEAR:
"I'm 222 (pounds) now. Last year I started the season, I was around 215 (pounds). I dropped down a little bit as the season went on."
ON IF HE FELT TOO LIGHT TO PLAY:
"No, I always feel strong enough and athletic enough to play."
ON WHERE HE'S WORKING:
"Mainly at Mike (linebacker). Listening and learning at Backer, too. Just help out wherever I can."
ON TREMAINE EDMUNDS AND THE OTHER LINEBACKERS:
"I think they've progressed just as well as everyone. Their reads are getting sharp. They act like they've been there and they're ready to step into that starting role. As linebackers, we've really focused on being 'erasers.' Kinda what coach is pushing us to be. Making big impacts on the field, being good all over the place."
ON IF HE WORKS SPECIAL TEAMS:
"Yeah, I'm about on all the special teams."
ON NEW SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR JAMES SHIBEST:
"He's definitely a character. It's about the mindset...special teams is about how bad you want it. You can go out there and half-ass it, but it's not gonna matter. It's all about effort."
ON IF HE WAS INJURED ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
"My redshirt freshman year. It was a kickoff. I was running down, made a strange play, cut, and ended up tearing my ACL. Kind of a crazy play."
ON HIS INDIVIDUAL PROGRESSION THIS OFFSEASON:
"I feel like I've progressed alot physically, but more than anything, mentally. Just maturing and being able to step into a role as a leader. Kind of becoming an older guy, taking people under my wing more and teaching them the ropes and stuff like that."
ON HAVING BUD FOSTER BACK:
"Oh it was huge. I think I speak for all the linebackers. We do everything that guy tells us to do. He means the world to us the way he handles each and every day."
Ricky Walker
ON DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH CHART:
"I'm not sure. I'm just taking advantage of the reps we get. Coach says that every spot's still open. He didn't say one spot, but says that competition out there every day. I'm taking advantage of my reps, and however it falls, it falls."
ON IF IT'S AN ADVANTAGE TO NOT KNOWING DEPTH CHART POSITION:
"Personally, I think that helps. Just keep going harder every day, each day. One day you might do good, but that don't mean nothing. You gotta keep going, keep going harder."
ON WHAT TEAM HE'S WORKING WITH:
"I'm working with the two's right now, me and (Tim) Settle."
ON IF HE'S EAGER TO PLAY AFTER SITTING OUT LAST YEAR:
"I think we're all eager. We're all competitors, we all got that in us. That's part of being a Hokie. Especially being on the defensive side, the lunch pail. That's what you do. I'm very excited to get back out there. I'm anxious. Take advantage of my reps. Just play hard."
ON HOW MUCH A REDSHIRT YEAR HELPED:
"It was a big plus. I'm a redshirt sophomore. I've got three more years instead of two. Gonna take advantage of that. Sat down and just watched and learned from the older guys. Luther (Maddy), Corey (Marshall), and all them guys. Got a chance to tackle school. Got ahead in school, so I'm good on that part. It was definitely a plus."
ON HOW HE CHANGED PHYSICALLY LAST YEAR:
"Actually, I changed the most this summer. I lost about three percent body fat, gained about five pounds of muscle. I feel way better out there on the field and you can see. I'm quicker, faster, just playing harder."
ON WHERE HE IS NOW WEIGHT WISE:
"Redshirt, I was about, I was probably pushing 290 (pounds), now I'm still about 288. Just toned it up a little bit."
ON IF HE WAS UPSET WHEN HE SAT LAST SEASON:
"No, everything was positive. Talked to my family and coaches, everything was positive. Everything happens for a reason. I was still supporting the team. Every Saturday, I was in Lane. I even traveled to the Georgia Tech game to go support the Hokies. I love football, I love it so I support when I can."
ON HIS TRIP TO GEORGIA TECH:
"I drove. Me and my girlfriend, her family has some family in Atlanta. So we went down there and I got them a couple tickets. We went down there and watched the game."
ON IF HIS BROTHER HAS PULL TO GET VIRGINIA TECH INTO PLAYOFFS:
"My brother, (Rijo Walker), I was proud of him. It's still camp time, so I didn't really get a chance to talk to him. But I congratulated him. He's making very big moves. Now he's (team operations coordinator) of the College Football Playoff or something like that. Walker, he's all over the news and Twitter and all that right now. I'm proud of him."
ON IF HIS BROTHER THOUGHT HE HAD A SHOT AT THE JOB:
"You definitely gotta go in with a positive mindset. I remember, I think it was the day I had to come back for camp, they sent him off to Dallas. Our whole family, before he left, we prayed and talked to him before he left. He was in good hands."
ON GOING AGAINST WYATT TELLER:
"I think Wyatt gets better every day. He's strong. He's physical. I'm physical and strong. I bring it to him. Going on film and seeing how I can picture him being another ACC guy that the same (strength) and has the (same) experience as him. I like going against him a lot, especially in pass rush."
ON HOW TELLER IS ON THE FIELD:
"On the field he's focused. He gets mad when he messes up or vice versa. I get mad if I mess up. We're just competing out there."
ON ANY YOUNG GUYS WHO HAVE STOOD OUT ON THE LINE:
"All of them. Gaines, House Gaines, Houshun. Travon Hill looks really good, quick, explosive. And the two freshmen (defensive) tackles, they have potential. (Clay) Dean and Jarrod (Hewitt), they have potential. Strong, quick and all the stuff."
Comments
Nice recap, Ryan. Here are a few tidbits that I thought I'd add from Twitter:
I present to you...Josh Jackson, everybody:
As opposed to what Mike London did with all of his quarterbacks:
We're watching Josh Jackson grow up right before our very own eyes...
Also, I predict we're about to see a whole bunch of Lion King gifs and memes. Well I'm excited.
Never liked that waterfall level.
I read something on Reddit a couple years ago that said that Disney made the Lion King game on Sega Genesis so hard so that people wouldn't be able to beat it during the rental period and end up buying it instead.
EDIT: Found it
In case anyone's feeling nostalgic...
Leg for the link.
$10 for a 22 year old game that is mainly a nostalgia revisit? No thanks, gog.com.
Yeah I got an alert email a couple weeks ago saying they had just gotten it. I expect the price to be more reasonable once it's been up a bit.
Also irritating was the fact you could not save, ever. If you made it up that freaking waterfall, you had to keep the game running, or else you lost your place.
I imagine the compliment from CJF during fall camp to JJax entering the QB battle royale went something like this
Anyone else concerned that there are three balls?
Can't hurt to have an extra
I miss this show
Check out his show
One for each QB.
Actually, the image wouldn't necessarily imply three, but two and one...all right I'm done.
Yeah both pixels
so I guess he doesn't have any trouble pronouncing Motuapuaka?
I have to put a marble in my mouth to say it right.
He's Lion King fan, not Lilo & Stitch.
A while back Bitter either tweeted or commented on here that a good way to correctly say motuapuaka is to think hakunamatata while you sound it out.
And yes, you just tried that out loud to see if it works.
Really glad to hear that Hill and Gaines are getting some dap. We've been looking for them to step up and it sounds like they're getting ready to fill a role for us at DE
I think this speaks volumes to JJ's character. And this is exactly the type of player we want every Hokie to be. He doesn't expect to play and he acknowledges that playing is a right that is earned rather than a privilege based on past high school achievements. Not to talk down on Lawson, but I just never saw this attitude from him last year. Maybe he'll transfer?
FTFY, I think
Excellent attitude. What strikes me about him is his poise and maturity despite
being a true freshman. He seems to have that "it" factor that top QB's have.
He's very much the son of a coach.
Well if you're the son of a coach and former player, you'll probably be a pretty good player in your own right.
It's the ...
Circle of Life.
Boom.
you ain't lion
His father will be filled with Pride. Especially when Jackson leads the team to Rock the opponent.
Even a hyena wouldn't laugh at that one. It's a real Scar on the thread.
You've gotta be kitten me with these puns...
Hakuna worded that any better myself.
I read on wikipedia that Jackson's brother Jeremy played on the 2011 Michigan team...
Horrible flashbacks of a missed call followed.
With this freshman sensation in the making what does that mean for Lawson?
Does the fact that he says he's not surprised that he's in the battle strike anyone else as funny? Does he mean given the play of the other quarterbacks he's not surprised?
Not in context. I took it as confidence, and he came in with the plan to do the best he could and see what happened.
Oh I'm sure, he didn't mean it in that way. But if you just read it could come off differently
Here's the actual video of the interview with JJ if anyone is interested...
I find it ironic that the player Lefty recruited his entire life is going the heir apparent and he's not even with the team anymore.
Loeffler is like Lemony Snicket. His life is just loaded with series' of unfortunate events
Plus everything hes associated with reminds you of someone else who did it first and better.
do not be surprised if JJ is the starter this year. #sauces say he is not just in the hunt but leading it right now. per sauce there was a closed practice and JJ was getting the majority of the first team reps. his understand of coaches Offense and where he wants to go with the ball and getting it there is really shinning above all else.
when I first heard the news I felt some type of way about a freshman starting and I still feel a little uneasy about it but honestly if his maturity level is what im hearing then I couldn't be more excited. there were going to be bumps and bruises with any QB coming in and I would rather take them with someone who requires the D to make plays to cause those mistakes than someone who is gifting the ball away and you add on that he could be doing it for the next 3 or 4 years to the mix and that cant help but get you more excited that we have a kid that Is killing it right now no matter what year he is.
Don't worry, 904, we've all felt some type of way at one point or another. Nothing to be ashamed about.
But seriously, I'm less concerned about who is leading the QB battle than I am about this "sauce" that continues to ooze out of the jar. Hopefully it's someone with good (although unwise) intentions and not trying to stir the pot with misinformation. I'd prefer these developments to come from the coaches (officially).
It seems CJF and the staff (as well as team spokesmen) have choreographed their coach speak so far, and I'd rather see that play out than risk upsetting the flow of propaganda. Loose lips sink ships, as they say.
But speculating based on snap chat footage? Go for it!
nah this sauce the sauce. you can coach speak all day to the media but when talking to your friends about camp I wouldn't really call it loose lips or trying to stir the pot or anything like that. I was honestly hesitant to say anything on here at all. but I always get such good info from here I thought it wouldn't be right to hold onto what i was told. def not snapchat or any kind of speculating. im not saying JJ will be the starter. just don't be surprised if he is. it is a fact that JJ got the majority of the QB1 reps in a closed practice that snapchat was not at lol.
Thanks for understanding my concern, and thanks for clarifying!
If true, things could get interesting and exciting.
Thanks for the informative post. He does seem to be a smart guy that can run the
offense well, which would obviously be important under Fuente.
In a way it would be exciting to have a true freshman as the starter. Like you,
I'm a little uneasy about it but hopefully he'll do well.
After how many times we as a fan base have campaigned for true freshman to start over the last 20 or so years, I think Jackson starting would be exactly what many of us want to see work.
If Jackson looks like he's ahead of everyone else, then I'd be very excited to see him start and get four years of starting under his belt. Paxton Lynch redshirted in Fuente's first year at Memphis. Fuente became Co-OC/QB coach at TCU after Andy Dalton became the starter. Fuente has never chosen a true freshman QB before.
If Jackson looks like he is even with the other two, then Jackson should start. All things equal, he could develop for four years as the starter, while Evans can only give us two years and Motley is in his last year. No reason to invest in Motley or Evans if Jackson is even with them already.
I agree. From all accounts Jackson seems to be the best option right now. That seems to be without playing for the future alone. I truly don't believe Fuente would start a guy who isn't the best when he has so much offensive talent around him. With that said, I'm so ready for speculation to be done with. Just two more weeks.
Really, a lot of the benefits to having upperclassmen don't apply to Evans and Motley, and some of the struggles of a true Freshman don't apply to Jackson. JJ has the same time and experience in Coach Fuente's system as the other guys (and wasn't corrupted/confused by terrible Scot Loeffler). He's also spent his entire life around a major FBS program at Michigan with his dad, so adjusting should come easier. He seems to be by far the most poised in interviews. If it's true that he's also the least mistake-prone, then the only disadvantage to him starting is that we won't have him at Michigan in 2020.
Those are some good points, i.e., benefits not applying for upperclassmen.
Should be interesting to see him take the field if he starts.
Typically, you're also concerned with size with freshmen. But, size wise, he's good at 6'1" 211 lbs. For reference, Tyrod is 6'1" 215 lbs, and Russell Wilson is 5'11" 215 lbs.
Maturity and confidence also do not seem to be issues. I really see no hindrance to starting him, if he actually has Evans and Motley beat.
The only thing that confuses me is if Jackson had even the slightest chance if winning the battle, why parade Motley and Evans in front of the media as a 2 horse race?
To see the "oh shit" look on Tennessee's face in week two.
It's always a 2 horse race until it's not.
Yes but that seemed to be very deliberate and also unnecessary if there was any uncertainty.
To me, it seemed like giving the upper classmen a bit of a nod while not promising anything. Also let's you see if the freshman has that drive to succeed or is accepting of his place for nothing based on ability.
Not everything is a mind game, and sometimes the situation changes. Maybe when Motley and Evans were up there it was "hey guys, go talk to the media" and that lit a fire under Jackson and since then he's come on strong. Maybe it was nothing. I think it was highly unlikely that putting them up and leaving out Jackson was an intentionally designed motivator to push Jackson or set up a false narrative for who the starter was going to be.
I don't think so. We entered into camp with Motley and Evans, so they were put in front of the media. Then after a bit of practice and closed sessions Jackson shows he's performing way above curve which at minimum puts him in the hunt. I think that is just a natural progression in preseason practice.
I believe it started out as a 2 man race but you cant ignore the play of JJ. he pushed himself into that race with his play. I think that says a TON about the situation when a guy that you kinda look at like okay he has a bright future we just need some time becomes a guy who you say hey this guy is competing for the starting job.
Would not surprise me at all if Jackson is QB1. I have been saying for a long time Fuente seems to play the long game. He did with Lynch and it obviously paid off for them both.
JJax is our guy for the future. I believe in him. Kinda reminds me of Tyrod in a way.
We might be getting new info about the QB competition today. Practice just ended
edit: No separation yet
How many QBs are splitting reps, hmm?
Click for heisman!
I clicked it and still haven't received my heisman. I think this website is defective.
Honestly, I was paying attention to the QBs at the practice and it looked like Evans was getting more reps than the others even if it was just slightly more. Could be wrong though.