Jackson Kollock Transfers from Minnesota to UC Davis, Eyes Fresh Start in FCS
The quarterback room in Minnesota just got a little less crowded.
After two seasons with the Gophers, redshirt sophomore Jackson Kollock is headed west to UC Davis, stepping down from the FBS level in search of a fresh opportunity and, more importantly, playing time.
Kollock’s transfer comes in the wake of Drake Lindsey’s emergence under center. When Max Brosmer departed for the NFL after his one-year stint in Minneapolis, Lindsey stepped in and didn’t look back.
His performance in meaningful reps last season gave head coach P.J. Fleck plenty of reason to feel confident about the future at quarterback.
And with Lindsey still just a redshirt sophomore in 2026, the expectation is that he’ll be the guy for at least the next two seasons - barring injury or a major shakeup.
That leaves limited room for movement on the depth chart. And for a player like Kollock - once a highly regarded three-star recruit out of Laguna Beach, California - the writing was on the wall.
Kollock, who once seriously considered Washington and Colorado during his recruitment, never saw the field for the Gophers. Despite his pedigree and the buzz that followed him out of high school, he found himself buried on the depth chart behind Lindsey and Max Shikenjanski, with Liberty transfer Michael Merdinger now entering the mix as well. The competition was only getting tougher, and the window for meaningful snaps was closing fast.
So Kollock made the move - not just to a new program, but to a new level. He’s committed to UC Davis, an FCS program that’s quietly built a reputation for strong quarterback play and postseason competitiveness. And for Kollock, it’s a chance to reset, return closer to home, and finally showcase the talent that made him a sought-after recruit.
In high school, Kollock put up eye-popping numbers: 5,376 passing yards, 73 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions, a 61.3% completion rate, and a 124.8 QB rating. He also added 418 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Those numbers made it easy to project him as a potential FBS starter - but two years without game film can cool even the hottest recruiting profile.
Now, he’ll look to reignite that spark at UC Davis, a team that’s trending upward. The Aggies went 9-4 last season and pulled off a second-round playoff upset over #9 Rhode Island before falling in the quarterfinals to Illinois State. The Redbirds, for their part, pushed all the way to the FCS title game, falling in overtime to #2 Montana State.
UC Davis has shown it can compete with the best at the FCS level, and they’re bringing in a quarterback with the tools to make a difference. For Kollock, this isn’t just a transfer - it’s a second chance to prove he still belongs in the conversation as a starting-caliber QB.
And for the Gophers, it’s another sign that the quarterback room is sorting itself out. Lindsey looks like the present and future, Shikenjanski has experience backing him up, and Merdinger is coming in to push the competition. The depth chart is evolving - and as it does, players like Kollock are finding new paths forward.
This next chapter for Jackson Kollock begins in California, not the Big Ten. But don’t mistake the move for a step down. It’s a move toward opportunity - and potentially, a breakout waiting to happen.