UCF QB Battle Heating Up After Tayven Jackson’s Inconsistent Season
Tayven Jackson’s first year as UCF’s starting quarterback was a rollercoaster-flashes of promise, moments of struggle, and a whole lot of uncertainty heading into next season.
There were stretches where Jackson looked the part. Take the opening quarter against BYU, for example-he was in rhythm, confident, and in command.
But those moments were too often followed by stretches where the offense sputtered, especially on the road. UCF went winless in five games away from home, and Jackson’s production dipped significantly in those hostile environments.
Only three of his ten touchdown passes came on the road, and all three of his rushing scores came in the friendly confines of the Bounce House.
By season’s end, Jackson had thrown for 2,151 yards with 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Those numbers placed him 15th among Big 12 quarterbacks, per PFSN College.
The only players ranked below him were freshmen still finding their footing at West Virginia, a backup from Arizona State, and Oklahoma State’s Zane Flores. Not exactly the company you want to keep if you're trying to lock down a Power Five starting job.
Now, the real intrigue begins.
Jackson will be back in the mix next season, but he won’t be handed anything. The quarterback room is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the Big 12.
Jacurri Brown and Cam Fancher-both upperclassmen with starting experience-are expected to return. Fancher may even be eligible for a medical redshirt, giving him another shot to compete.
Then there’s Davi Belfort, a freshman with elite speed and plenty of buzz around the program. Head coach Scott Frost and several teammates have already gone out of their way to praise the young signal-caller, which tells you he’s not just there to hold a clipboard.
And if that wasn’t enough, UCF is bringing in 4-star recruit Rocco Marriott-the highest-rated quarterback commit in program history. At 6'4", 220 pounds, Marriott already looks the part of a Power Five starter. He’s not just coming in to learn-he’s coming in to compete.
So where does that leave Jackson?
He’s got the experience. He’s shown flashes.
But he’ll need to find consistency-and fast-if he wants to stay atop the depth chart. Another year in Scott Frost’s system could help smooth out the rough edges, but with this much talent around him, the leash will be short.
The Knights are building something in Orlando. But before they can take the next step in the Big 12, they need to figure out who’s leading them under center. And right now, that job is wide open.