he made public Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe conversation with his family was after Saturday’s men’s basketball game between IU and Wisconsin. Jackson attended with Allen and offensive coordinator\/quarterbacks coach Walt Bell. Jackson watched his brother Trayce Jackson-Davis, a star big man for the Hoosiers, help lead IU to a win. <\/p>\n
At Assembly Hall on Saturday, the Tennessee transfer and former Center Grove star heard chants of \u201cWe want Tayven\u201d coming from the student section.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was pretty surreal, was crazy,\u201d Jackson told IndyStar. \u201cI just kept looking over to my dad and he had a big smile on his face. ‘Cause I was here when Romeo Langford was getting recruited and they were chanting his name. As a little kid, I thought that was like the greatest thing ever. It was really surreal and really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
So following the game, before a final meeting with Allen, Jackson brought his family together to tell them his decision. Asked about what he remembers from that conversation, Jackson said this:<\/p>\n
\u201cI just remember feeling that this was home,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd this is gonna be home for four years and I feel like we’re gonna do something really special as a program and as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
His family agreed and was supportive.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrayce,\u201d Jackson added, \u201cespecially does.\u201d<\/p>\n
This has the potential to be a seismic pickup for Indiana football not only because of the caliber of player Indiana is getting, but also the roster need that it fills. Jackson was a four-star recruit in the 2022 high school class. He elected to attend Tennessee but rarely saw playing time as a freshman. On IU’s side, the Hoosiers \u2014 the past two seasons \u2014 have endured a carousel of quarterbacks due to multiple reasons. The unsteadiness of that position has been one of IU’s most pressing concerns.<\/p>\n
Jackson has the potential to help fill that.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust the culture that Tom Allen has in that locker room and on the field and around the players, the atmosphere of the fans and it’s just a loving environment,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cI’d love to go to work and go to battle for a coach like that. Just the relationship I have with coach Allen through the years. I just felt like it was the right spot for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The thought of a backfield with Jackson and the dynamic Jaylin Lucas could be something IU hasn’t seen in a while. IU’s offense, much like its program since the conclusion of the 2020 season, has struggled mightily. The Hoosiers, among other issues, have been unable to find a consistent offensive rhythm.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoach Bell is a great OC and I’m excited to see what he has in his facility and what we can use to bring this offense into a top 10 offense in the country,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cSo I’m excited, I think that’s the goal. The goal is to win a Big Ten championship. That’s always gonna be the goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
With the spring semester already underway, Jackson said he is enrolling in classes at IU immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cTime to get up there and time to go to work,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cProve myself and prove to others that we are a good team and we deserve everything we work for and we’re gonna do our best to put on for the city, put on for the state, win football games, score a lotta points. \u201d<\/p>\n