“They didn’t really say anything specific but I learned from watching their film at UCF, how they broke all those records, so I want to be like that,” Jackson said at the Elite 11. “I want to show off my arm and show off my playmaking skills and this is an offense I can do it in.
“They just want to open it up and rip it.”
More than 30 schools offered the Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove standout but sitting down with position coach Joey Halzle sold him on the vision for Tennessee’s offense under the new coaching staff.
There will be a spread offense, lots of passing and while balance will be important - did we mention the Vols are going to pass the ball a whole lot?
“I feel like that’s going to be a blast but obviously we have to keep it balanced with running the ball and play-action and having a balanced offense,” Jackson said. “But they’re going to rip it and I’m very excited to get down there.
“Me and coach Halzle, the quarterbacks coach, we sat in his office on my official visit and my unofficial visit, I went down there like three times, and we watched how they developed Dillon Gabriel and that’s how they want to develop me so I’m going to do anything they ask me to do.”
Last season, the Vols averaged just 21.5 points per game. They threw just 14 touchdowns. Only one receiver had more than 22 catches. No receiver had more than four TDs.
At UCF, albeit in an easier conference, Gabriel threw the ball 413 times for 3,570 yards with 32 touchdowns and four picks.
Jackson sees Tennessee with a strong defense, mixed with a new uptempo offense that has proven it can score elsewhere, as the way to winning the SEC East to start.
“I know our defense is going to be really good,” Jackson said. “Oklahoma did it and they won games.”
