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Virginia Tech quarterback Josh Jackson’s eligibility issues appear to be resolved. Earlier this month, reports floated around that his status with the team was unclear, but he is apparently still with the Hokies:
BREAKING: Sources say incumbent QB Josh Jackson's status with #Hokies has been resolved. He remains with the team.
— David Teel (@DavidTeelatDP) June 19, 2018
The Roanoke Times also reported Tuesday that Jackson remains a full member of the team, and that there are no indications of a suspension for him.
Here’s how Jackson’s eligibility situation looked before the latest news:
His father, Fred Jackson, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on June 7:
“As of right now, Josh is still a member of the Virginia Tech football team. We’ll know more in two days. It’s too early to talk about this.”
Further reports surfaced:
Virginia Tech starting QB Josh Jackson has been suspended indefinitely pending an investigation into an academic issue, per sources.
— Mike McDaniel (@MikeMcDanielCFB) June 7, 2018
Worth updating. A source familiar with the situation tells me #Hokies are optimistic Josh Jackson will be able to play this season, but doesn't expect any final outcome today... https://t.co/Os4qxZoW1B
— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) June 8, 2018
The Times-Dispatch added: “With the academic semester recently completed, the school’s compliance office would be reviewing athletes’ eligibility this month.”
Jackson threw for 2,991 yards, 20 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 135 rating as a redshirt freshman starter in 2017. He added six touchdowns on the ground. He has figured to be Virginia Tech’s man under center not just in 2018, but at least in 2019, too.
The Jackson news piled on to some bad recent roster news.
At the end of May, the Hokies lost two cornerbacks in one week. Adonis Alexander left the program to try his hand in the NFL Supplemental Draft, and word broke that junior college transfer Jeremy Webb would take a medical redshirt instead of playing this year.
That was tough news because Virginia Tech was already losing a bunch on defense. The Hokies had two first-round picks come from that side of the ball this spring, in brothers Tremaine and Terrell Edmunds. That cost coordinator Bud Foster a stud linebacker and a stud safety. Nose tackle Tim Settle and cornerback Greg Stroman were NFL picks, too.
The unit also lost its co-coordinator and safeties coach, Galen Scott, in April.
That’s a roundabout way of saying that Virginia Tech needs its offense to carry a lot of the load this season, especially early on, while Foster works in a lot of new faces on defense.
Compounding VT’s problems: The first game of the year is a hard one.
Week 1 brings a trip to Florida State, which is in its own state of transition but still has tons of talent and will be playing at home. The Hokies looked to have a slight edge in that game as recently as a few weeks ago. Now, Justin Fuente’s team has a lot less clarity.
After FSU, the Hokies play a handful of games in a row that shouldn’t be much trouble: William & Mary, ECU, Old Dominion, and Duke. They host Notre Dame on Oct. 6.
The Hokies are an ACC Coastal contender just about every year. They might still be one in 2018, but the last few weeks have done nothing to help their cause. Jackson’s status being clear certainly avoids a big setback yet in an offseason that’s presented a few of them.