Virginia Tech head football coach Justin Fuente opened today’s press conference by announcing that Josh Jackson will be Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback to open the 2017 season.
https://twitter.com/HokiesFB/status/897140150660157441
Fuente said in subsequent comments that AJ Bush currently leads as the No. 2 quarterback, which would make true-freshman Hendon Hooker a strong redshirt candidate.
Jackson is from Ann Arbor, Mich. and signed with the Hokies as part of the 2016 recruiting class. His father is Fred Jackson, a long-time college assistant coach (including from 1992-2014 with Michigan) and current head coach at Ypsilanti High School in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan.
Josh Jackson redshirted in the 2016 and will be a redshirt-freshman for the 2017 season, with four years of eligibility.
Jackson was surprised by the announcement.
#Hokies Josh Jackson on being named starter: "It was kind of a surprise to be honest. I thought it was going to be a regular Monday."
— Ricky LaBlue (@RickyLaBlue) August 14, 2017
#Hokies Josh Jackson says he found out he was the starter at 1230pm. Says he's been able to call his Dad, that's about it.
— Ricky LaBlue (@RickyLaBlue) August 14, 2017
We’ll have more detail in a later update following the conclusion of today’s press conference.
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I remember reading during the HH recruitment that CJF had promised HH and his high school coach that HH would get a redshirt year if at all possible. I’m glad CJF will get to live up to that commitment. Institutional integrity is important.
Look Out Eers!
Here come the Hokies
Led by QB Jackson
The best choice. The most experienced under the system is Jackson. A great back-up with game experience in Bush, and a future star in Hooker (glad he can red-shirt). Knowledge of the system should be better in the future for all 3 gentlemen. Go HOKIES!
If JJ has a good or great season it will be difficult to unseat him…..so there will be some attrition as he has 3 years left…..that’s a good problem if he plays well….watching his videos he reminds me a lot like Bryan Randle…..I wish him Great Luck !
Good new for a Monday in mid August. Hope things line up for a red shirt year for HH and jax/bush do great!
I am just glad that HH gets to redshirt.
I don’t think it was a done deal, but it plays out like expected. I think JF likes having a pipeline so a couple Jr-Sr guys and a couple Fr-Soph guys is the goal. Yeah, JJ is a r-fr but this is pump priming, so a de-facto Jr-Sr guy now, it’s his job to keep. Bush as the change-of-pace/late in game backup. Hooker would have had to more than just edge out the other guys so where “we” wanted him all along, giving him cover as a developing freshman. It’s not perfect as we don’t have the starting experience but the pieces are in the right places.