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    • Tayven Jackson is ready for his return to the spotlight
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    Tayven Jackson is ready for his return to the spotlight

    Kathleen William Posted on

    BLOOMINGTON – Indiana football quarterback Tayven Jackson's performance in the second half of a 56-7 win over Nebraska was well received in the locker room.

    Jackson entered the lineup for the injured Kurtis Rourke (thumb) as the sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium held its breath, but they had no reason to worry — he had IU's potent offense firing on all cylinders.

    The No. 13 Hoosiers (7-0; 4-0 Big Ten) scored on four of their five possessions under his leadership.

    “I feel like Tayven has gotten a lot more confident,” Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. said Tuesday night. “I feel like Tino (Sunseri) helped him a lot. He has developed a lot since last year. I feel like playing like him now will be a great opportunity for him and a great way for him to step up and show his skills.

    RELATED: Indiana Football: How QB Tayven Jackson's experience compares to other Big Ten backups

    Cooper has known Jackson since his days as a standout dual-sport athlete on the Indianapolis prep scene. They met every year from the gridiron to the hardwood, with Cooper playing for Lawrence North and Jackson playing for Center Grove.

    “Tayven is my buddy,” Cooper said with a smile.

    Even though Center Grove was a football superstar, Cooper Jackson likes to remind him that he had a perfect basketball record against him. They grew even closer during spring training, working primarily on the second-team offense.

    “That connection was built back then,” Cooper said.

    Jackson has thrown for 225 yards (66.7%) and scored three touchdowns in four games this season. He completed his first six pass attempts against Nebraska and finished the game with 91 yards (7 of 8) and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball twice for 21 yards.

    His standout moment came when he hit Elijah Sarratt with a perfectly placed back-shoulder throw for a 15-yard score.

    It was a rewarding moment for Jackson, who faced his fair share of adversity in 2023. The former Tennessee transfer won the starting job at IU in a competition with Brendan Sorsby that extended into the season, only to lose it within weeks.

    According to Cooper, Jackson's commitment to the team never wavered and he remained a positive presence in the locker room throughout.

    He took over supporting Rourke for much of the offseason in the same way.

    “He kind of knew he wasn't going to get that starting job, he just had to focus on being the best teammate and continuing to develop,” Cooper said. “Which he did really well. This is his chance now, we're going with him and we trust him.

    Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek Click here to read all of his coverage.

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    Kathleen William
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