Virginia Tech may be poised to lose their starting quarterback
Justin Fuente enjoyed a fairy tale first season at Virginia Tech. Losing quarterback Josh Jackson may make his second year a nightmare.
No one seems to be quite sure what’s going on with Josh Jackson at Virginia Tech. The only thing for certain is that something is amiss with the sophomore quarterback. It’s very possible the Hokies will be forced to turn elsewhere for quarterback play in 2018.
Reports surfaced earlier this week that Jackson had been “suspended indefinitely” due to an academic issue. The player’s father, Fred Jackson, disputes that assertion. He claims it’s still “too early” to talk about his son’s situation. Those are hardly comforting words for Hokie fans hoping for a big season.
Jackson was a big reason why Virginia Tech was able to win nine games in Fuente’s first season. He started all 13 games for his team and threw for 2,991 yards and 20 touchdowns. The logical expectations were that he’d take on an even bigger role in his sophomore season. If he’s forced to miss significant time this season Fuente will have to rely on either redshirt freshman Hendon Hooker or transfer Ryan Willis. Neither player has the dynamic athleticism that defines Jackson’s game.
The real question now is when the coaching staff might get a definitive update on their quarterback’s eligibility. His father’s belief that the matter will be resolved in two days seems quite optimistic. Generally speaking, neither the NCAA or intercollegiate compliance offices are renowned for their speedy decision-making processes. This issue could easily linger for several more weeks.
The wise thing for Fuente and his coaching staff to do at this point would be to start making serious contingency plans. There are far more potential negative outcomes for Jackson than positive ones at this point in time. Investigations into academic or eligibility matters rarely yield positive results for student-athletes.
Next: Virginia Tech projected 2018 depth chart
The harsh reality is that Virginia Tech’s hopes for an ACC Championship may be over before they ever get started. If Josh Jackson isn’t able to lead the Hokies’ attack, they’re going to struggle to score enough points to be title contenders.