North Texas: He's been benched, replaced and pushed out.
North TexasHe's been benched, replaced and pushed out. Now North Texas' Tayven Jackson is of the nation's top QBs.
DENTON, Texas — The conversation always seemed to go the same way: "You're a great player, but we have a guy already." Tayven Jackson heard it again and again in the transfer portal last winter.
It was a reality Jackson almost resigned himself to late in last year's portal cycle: He'd just have to be a backup somewhere and get his degree. Then a family connection changed his fate.
His uncle, Chris, the wide receivers coach at Texas, called Jackson's dad, Ray, asking how Tayven's transfer process had gone. When Ray told Chris that Tayven hadn't had any bites as a starter, Chris said he'd call Neal Brown.
KEY POINTS
- After generating zero starting interest in the portal last winter, the four-school journeyman has powered the Mean Green to a 6-2 start while ranking third nationally in passing yards and tossing 22 touchdowns
- Schools would call the former UCF starter and four-star recruit, but they were all interested in him transferring in as a backup.
- Brown had spent the 2025 season at Texas as special assistant to the head coach before taking the job at North Texas .
- Despite returning zero starters from a 12-win team led by Eric Morris a season ago, UNT is off to a 6-2 start, including a 4-0 mark in American play.