Tech Tidbits: Josh Jackson Just Couldn't Wait to be King

It's Aug. 14, and the Hokies have a starting quarterback — raise your hand if you saw that coming.

I, for one, am a bit surprised that Justin Fuente was ready to pull the trigger so early on this decision, given that he waited until late August to give Jerod Evans the nod in what was (presumably) a much less competitive race last year.

But, regardless of the circumstances, we can all officially stop fretting over who will take the reins under center this year, for a few weeks at least. Josh Jackson is the new QB1, so let's dive into the nitty gritty.

Fuente Finds His Man Quickly

When Fuente said on Friday that he expected the afternoon's scrimmage would tell the staff a lot about the quarterback competition, I don't think anyone expected he'd be naming a starter three days later.

Yet here we are, all the same, with a concrete answer to the preseason's biggest question.

Fuente told reporters Monday that it was hardly a "one-practice decision" to tab Jackson as the guy, but surely Friday's scrimmage had a lot to do with cementing the redshirt freshman as the starter. OC Brad Cornelsen mentioned that the staff started to lean Jackson's way over the last few practices leading up to the announcement, so I think it's reasonable to assume that he made it clear pretty quickly that his extra year in the offense provided the sort of advantage that fans and observers initially believed it would.

But this quote from Cornelsen jumped out to me as well, via David Teel of the Daily Press: "I really felt, coming out of the spring, it was, I didn't know between all of them, to be honest with you."

I certainly believe Jackson had a bit of a leg up from day one (who wouldn't after spending a year in the program?) but I also thought from the get-go that they were willing to give A.J. Bush and Hendon Hooker a real shake here. That Jackson emerged as the winner so quickly tells me that Bush didn't have the same command of the offense (despite the athleticism that Fuente was praising as recently as Friday) and that Hooker still needs more seasoning, despite the flashes of brilliance he showed in the spring game. It also suggests that Fuente was tired of being pestered by the media and Hokies fans about who the starter would be (a statement I make only slightly in jest).

Whether Jackson can develop into The Next Great Virginia Tech Quarterback very much remains to be seen, but I have to imagine that what Fuente and company are looking for right now is simple: a guy who's not gonna screw everything up.

Cornelsen praised his ability to "take care of the ball," while Fuente noted his "consistency," and that stuff has become coach-speak for a reason.

Bud Foster's defense has enough talent returning to be really excellent this coming season, perhaps good enough to carry the team as the offense works stuff out. What even the best defense can't overcome, however, is turnovers (just ask the 2013 defense if you're unsure about that).

Jackson's big advantage always seemed to be experience, and therefore command of the offense, as it seemed his competitors didn't lack for physical gifts. Fuente is surely hoping Jackson can get the offense humming at a high level in a hurry, but it strikes me that his competency with the basics was what prompted such a swift end to the QB battle.

Still, let's not overlook how unusual it is for a coach in this day and age to tab a starting QB that he didn't personally recruit, particularly for an offensive-minded guy like Fuente. For all of the many things Scot Loeffler did wrong at Tech, it seems he picked a winner in Jackson, and it certainly says something that a coach would tab a previous regime's prized recruit as the starter over a pair of guys he brought to Blacksburg himself.

Using A.J.'s Athleticism

So, imagine you're A.J. Bush today — you've transferred across the country to Southwest Virginia to a program where just a season ago, a JUCO guy won the starting job over a veteran.

Now, you learn you've lost out to a redshirt freshman. Hardly a completely unexpected outcome, given Jackson's time with the team, but a tough pill to swallow nonetheless.

You're on your second D-I program by this point, and while you clearly have athletic gifts and prototypical size, it's not enough for you to earn a starting spot. What's next for you at Tech?

Well, Fuente and Cornelsen are already tabbing Bush as the clear back-up, portending a possible redshirt for Hooker, so there's that. The staff is certainly pleased to have a guy with D-I experience on the bench besides just a true freshman (and they surely envisioned this exact scenario playing out when they brought on Bush).

But will the coaches go farther than that, and try to use Bush on the field? It doesn't seem impossible, though Cornelsen batted away those suggestions Monday, noting that Bush will need to be focused on being ready should Jackson get hurt or otherwise falter.

Yet Bush has always seemed the more natural running threat, and Fuente does love a good running QB. Jackson insisted he's comfortable in the QB run game, and I doubt he'd be the starter if he wasn't in some way, but at 6'1", 215 he doesn't have the same size as Bush (and certainly not the same as Evans).

So perhaps this where the Hokies can make use of the JUCO transfer instead, to mix things up a bit. Jackson plainly seems athletic enough to get involved in the run game, but he isn't a bruiser like Evans, so maybe the coaches mix things up every once in a while.

After all, Sam Rogers isn't around anymore for trick plays, so why not?

Looking Way, Way Down the Line

Indulge this recruiting nerd for a moment as I examine what this decision means beyond simply Tech's prospects in 2017.

If Jackson and Bush are your one-two players on the depth chart, it sure seems like a safe bet Hooker is headed for a redshirt (obligatory Jack Click reference, because somebody's gotta hold down the bottom of the depth chart).

There is some magical world out there where Jackson starts this year, becomes a phenom, then jumps to the pros after dazzling scouts as a redshirt sophomore. Not holding my breath, but, I wouldn't complain too much about it.

More than likely, if Jackson is the real deal, that locks up the starting spot for a total of anywhere from three to four years. That's a big deal if you're Hooker, and an even bigger deal if you're one of the two 2018ers Tech is set to sign: Quincy Patterson and DeJuan Ellis.

I've asked both of them about the possibility of a logjam at quarterback, and they haven't expressed any concern about a little competition. But there's a big difference between coming in as Bush enters his second (and final) second year as the starter, and coming in as Jackson enters his second year, with as many as two more years on the horizon.

A bevy of talented, and young, quarterbacks is a good problem to have for Fuente and company. It's a bit more concerning if you're facing the prospect of sitting on the bench for a few years, then entering a competition with a bevy of former top recruits (and whoever else Fuente signs in the next few classes).

These are absolutely not concerns for Fuente right now! Few things are better for the team than Jackson being a smashing success for the next few years, and him getting the chance to work with a guy for an extended period of time.

But, just something to keep in the back of your mind as things unfold. I feel quite sure that Ellis, Patterson and tons of other QB recruits Fuente is currently courting were watching for this announcement, and it will have ripple effects.

Enough hand-wringing about the future — enjoy the first of what I'm sure will be many puns about the new QB1's favorite movie.

Here's my really quick attempt pic.twitter.com/ZnDyXH483v— Ryan (@polomskyryan) August 14, 2017