Former Tennessee Vols QB has 'strong chance' to win starting QB job at his new program for the 2025 season

A former Tennessee Vols quarterback has a "strong chance" to win a starting job for the 2025 season. 

Former Vols quarterback Tayven Jackson transferred to UCF following the 2024 season after spending the last two years at Indiana. 

Jackson, a former four-star recruit, spent one season at Tennessee (his true freshman season in 2022) before leaving for Indiana. 

The former Vol appears to be the favorite to win the starting quarterback job at UCF this fall. 

"Competition will be open under (Scott) Frost's regime, but Jackson — Indiana's backup to Kurtis Rourke last fall — will have a strong chance to win the job," noted the Daytona Beach News-Journal's Chris Boyle this week. 

Jackson has totaled 1,300 passing yards and six passing touchdowns in 16 career games. He also has five career rushing touchdowns. 

The Indiana native could be poised for a breakout season in 2025. Jackson has experienced a couple of different offenses and cultures over the last three seasons. Now that's entering his fourth year in college, Jackson should be ready to be "the guy" for an entire season thanks to the experience he's gained in recent years. 

It also helps that Jackson will be coached in Orlando by Scott Frost, who was re-hired by UCF earlier this offseason, and quarterbacks coach McKenzie Milton. 

Milton played under both Frost and Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during his playing days at UCF. There should be some level of continuity there for Jackson considering the year he spent Tennessee under Heupel. 

Jackson, by the way, isn't the only former Tennessee quarterback who could earn a starting job in 2025. Former Vols quarterback Kaidon Salter, who was dismissed from Tennessee's football team in before the 2021 season due to some off-field issues, is viewed by many as the favorite to win the starting quarterback job at Colorado.