Star Quarterback Could Miss Upcoming College Football Season
BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 30: A general view of Lane Stadium prior to the game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Clemson Tigers on September 30, 2017 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
It is June, so hope should spring eternal for most big college football programs. Virginia Tech is holding its breath with the situation regarding quarterback Josh Jackson, however.
Jackson, a preseason second team All-ACC player heading into the fall, is dealing with an "academic-related issue." It reportedly has his status in question heading into the season.
Virginia Tech should know Jackson's status soon, though, so there is time to prepare for the worst case scenario. The quarterback's father spoke to the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the timetable.
“As of right now, Josh is still a member of the Virginia Tech football team,” Fred Jackson said Thursday by phone. “We’ll know more in two days. It’s too early to talk about this.”
Jackson is not suspended by the team, and still has access to its facilities and activities. If he cannot play this fall, though, it leaves a huge hole in the starting lineup for a team that was set to challenge for the ACC Coastal division.
Josh Jackson emerged as one of the ACC's most promising quarterbacks as a redshirt freshman in 2017.
Jackson completed 60.3-percent of his throws for 2,991 yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions last year. He also rushed for 324 yards and five touchdowns.
If he cannot play, Kansas transfer Ryan Willis is likely in line to start. He played for the Jayhawks in 2015 and 2016, throwing for 2,530 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 17 picks.
The Hokies also have redshirt freshman Herndon Hooker, who was set to be third string this year. Quincy Patterson II also joins the team this summer, but was probably set to redshirt before the Jackson news.
Patterson was a four-star recruit over at 247Sports, and ranked No. 13 among dual threat quarterbacks in the class of 2018.
