Freshman quarterback Ja’Quinden Jackson has entered his name into the transfer portal and will leave Texas, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.
A former four-star quarterback out of Duncanville, Texas, Jackson was the No. 34-ranked recruit overall in the 2020 class, and the No. 2 prospect out of the state of Texas, according to ESPN’s recruiting rankings.
Labeled a dual-threat quarterback, Jackson piled up more than 3,600 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes, plus more than 3,200 rushing yards and 51 scores on the ground while leading Duncanville to back-to-back state title game appearances. He did not appear in a game this fall for the Longhorns, who finished the 2020 regular season at 6-3.
Texas coach Tom Herman signed two quarterbacks in the 2020 class, and Jackson was slotted behind senior starter Sam Ehlinger, sophomore Casey Thompson and fellow frosh Hudson Card on the 2020 depth chart. Card was ranked the fifth-best recruit in 2020 from Texas.
Thompson threw only seven passes this season for Texas, while Card did not see any significant playing time.
The Longhorns do not know at this point if Ehlinger will return next season. He would be eligible to do so if he chooses because the NCAA granted all players an extra season due to the pandemic conditions this fall.
If Ehlinger does not return, Texas will enter the spring season with just three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster — Thompson, Card and three-star prospect Charles Wright, who is expected to sign with Texas when the earning signing period begins Wednesday.