North Texas football head coach Neal Brown has officially designated former University of Central Florida quarterback Tayven Jackson as the Mean Green's starting signal-caller for the upcoming season. The announcement comes during fall camp as the program prepares for its opening game.
Jackson’s path to this role involved significant movement across multiple programs. He began his collegiate career at Indiana before transferring to Tennessee and then UCF, where he served as an extended starter last season. His tenure in Orlando followed a Week 1 injury to presumed starter Cam Fancher.
Jackson’s statistical line for that campaign included 2,151 passing yards, ten touchdowns, and eight interceptions, alongside three rushing scores.
Performance data indicates a stark contrast between home and away games during his time with the Knights. Only three of his passing touchdowns occurred in opposing stadiums, while all three of his rushing scores were recorded at home. One notable performance came against West Virginia, where he threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-13 victory.
Both of those scoring passes went to wide receiver Chris Domercant.
Brown cited Jackson’s resilience as a key factor in the decision. The coach noted that Jackson has navigated adversity at previous stops and has worked hard to avoid repeating past disappointments. Brown described the quarterback as talented and possessing a strong presence on the field.
