Interesting Road for the Oldest P4 QB

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Aug 28, 2025 6:28 AM ET

The college football world has changed in many ways over the last few years. While most of the focus has been on NIL and the transfer portal, the COVID years also made player eligibility chaotic. And because of that, there are players preparing for the 2025 season who would have previously been done with their college days.

One of these players is Texas A&M quarterback Jacob Zeno, who was a four-star high school recruit in the Class of 2019. Now 25, Zeno will be participating in his seventh collegiate season with the Aggies. Not surprisingly, when combined with the emergence of the transfer portal, it has been an interesting ride for Zeno.

Nov 11, 2023; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; UAB Blazers quarterback Jacob Zeno (4) throws from the pocket during the first half against the UAB Blazers at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Zeno committed to Baylor back in May, 2018 and enrolled with the Bears in early 2019. However, after a little more than two seasons and only 29 pass attempts, he entered the transfer portal in late September 2021. In December, he found his next home.

Signing with UAB, Zeno enjoyed some success with the Blazers. Spending three seasons in Birmingham, Zeno was most productive during the 2023 season when he passed for 3,126 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 73.6% of his attempts. His completion percentage was the second highest at the FBS level.

However, 2024 went sideways for Zeno after an injury to his non-throwing shoulder cut his season to only four games. He decided that his best option was to find a new home for his final season, which brought him to College Station in December.

He arrived at Texas A&M fully knowing that redshirt sophomore Marcel Reed was going to be the starter. But he adds valuable experience to a position that was lacking it. While he hopes to make an impact on the field in 2025, his mentorship of Reed and freshmen Miles O’Neill and Brady Hart has been invaluable.

However his last collegiate season goes, Zeno has not wasted the opportunities that have come his way.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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