Quarterback power rankings: Best college football quarterbacks of 2019

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers throws a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

2 of 30

LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 03: Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Josh Jackson (17) runs for the end zone during a college football game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Virginia Tech Hokies on September 3, 2017, at Fedex Field, in Landover, MD. Virginia Tech defeated West Virginia 31-24. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

29. Josh Jackson, Maryland

Amid Maryland football’s reconstruction, they brought in a fresher face at quarterback to lead this new, less-controversial era of football; that is Josh Jackson, a transfer from Virginia Tech.

For 16 games, Jackson was the future at quarterback for the Hokies. His 2017 season was promising as a freshman, throwing for 2,991 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushing for six more. His completion percentage missed 60.0, but that year’s team was 9-4.

Unfortunately for Jackson, he broke his leg in the third game of the 2018 and missed the rest of the season. Virginia Tech went just 6-7, lost their quarterback for the year and watched him leave as a transfer to the Terrapins.

Jackson has the chance to rise as Maryland’s lead offensive player, building off his brief success in the ACC. He trended well in just two full games in 2018, throwing for over 400 combined yards, three touchdowns and a roughly 70 percent completion mark, so if new head coach Mike Locksley receives the efficient version of this player, they could be interesting in the middle of the Big Ten pack.

Jackson still has a lot to prove after a serious injury, but there is upside with him working with the former Alabama offensive coordinator, which was a role he held during Tua Tagovailoa’s Heisman-caliber season in 2018.