The Utah Utes are getting yet another elite quarterback prospect on the roster with the announcement that former Texas Longhorns quarterback Ja’Quinden Jackson is transferring to Utah. He is the second Texas quarterback to transfer to Utah along with Cam Rising. Jackson was rated the No. 3 dual threat quarterback and No. 73 overall player in the 2020 class according to the 247Sports Composite Ranking. Utah recruited Jackson out of high school before he chose to attend Texas. Jackson and Utah running back Ty Jordan formed a connection when both were committed to Texas, and it sounds like the relationship with Jordan and the Utah coaches formed on the recruiting trail were big on getting him to Utah.
Jackson is listed at 6’2”, 232 pounds with a 4.61 40-yard dash time. He is an elite athlete. Scouts said he was the best player on the field at the highest level of Texas high school football, leading his Duncanville team to the state championship game as a junior and senior. He played in a run-heavy offense, putting up about the same rushing yards (3.293 yards and 51 TDs) as passing yards (3,611 and 40 TDs). He is good enough to be a Power Five starting quarterback, but he still has work to develop as a passer. Jackson’s skillset and relationship with Jordan could potentially form a wicked ground offense for the Utes going forward. Having another talented prospect in the quarterback room is great for a Utah team that is a quarterback away from an elite season in 2021. If he does not secure the starting quarterback job, he will at least push Rising and incoming freshman Peter Costelli, and he has the potential to be an elite defender at linebacker or safety. Getting a player as talented as Jackson into the program is huge for Utah.