A busy week for Virginia Tech football continues: redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Jackson, the team’s starter, has been suspended indefinitely.
According to a report from Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Fred Jackson, Josh’s father, the quarterback remains on Virginia Tech’s roster; however, more will be determined later this week. Mike McDaniel of ESPN Blacksburg reports that it’s an academic issue.
Virginia Tech starting QB Josh Jackson has been suspended indefinitely pending an investigation into an academic issue, per sources.
— Mike McDaniel (@MikeMcDanielCFB) June 7, 2018
Andy Bitter, another excellent beat reporter for VT, mentioned on Twitter that rumors regarding this topic have bubbled for weeks.
Been smoke around this for a little while. Have not been able to get in touch with Fred Jackson today with
no luck. #Hokies officials have no comment as of now. https://t.co/00K4l05Hpm— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) June 7, 2018
If Jackson, who started all 13 games a year ago, is lost for the season, it would be a significant blow for a Hokies squad that has hope of claiming its second Coastal Division title in three years under Justin Fuente.
In 2017, Josh Jackson stepped up to fill the void at quarterback left by the sudden departure of Jerod Evans to the NFL Draft. After a hot start to the season, Jackson cooled off against tougher competition. He was still pretty darn good, though: 2,991 yards through the air, 20 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.
Jackson averaged 230 passing yards per game, and finished fourth in the ACC in QB rating. In terms of ESPN’s Total QB Rating, Jackson ranked 57th in the nation.
According to Football Study Hall, with Jackson at the helm, Virginia Tech ranked 38th in the FBS in Isolated Points per Pass Play. Jackson also ran for 324 yards — 466 yards once lost yardage from sacks is added back in — and six touchdowns.
With an inconsistent run game behind him, Jackson was supposed to shoulder an even larger load in 2018 — his third in Fuente’s system. That now remains to be seen, however.
Behind Jackson, it’s a mixed bag: Kansas transfer Ryan Willis, Hendon Hooker, and true freshman Quincy Patterson. Last season’s backup, A.J. Bush (11 pass attempts), transferred to Illinois.