Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin looks on in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in Fort Collins, Colo. When Harsin was trying to figure out how to keep his team engaged throughout all of the uncertainty about whether Boise State would play a season or not, there was one voice he turned to for advice.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
In an intriguing development late on Wednesday night, Auburn revealed the acquisition of former Cal quarterback Sam Jackson V. However, this time, he joins as a wide receiver through the transfer portal.
Auburn faced Jackson in the second game of the 2023 season, where he threw for 129 yards and two interceptions against their defense in Berkeley. Despite Jackson’s efforts, Auburn emerged victorious with a 14-10 win on September 9. Notably, Jackson and the current Auburn starting quarterback, Payton Thorne, were once high school teammates at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois.
Before heading to Nashville for the Music City Bowl on Saturday, Thorne hinted at the possibility of Auburn adding another transfer receiver during a press conference. As it turns out, the newly added receiver is someone Thorne is familiar with.
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 and officially an Auburn Tiger 🖊️
Samuel Jackson V is headed to The Plains!
🏠 Chicago, Illinois
🏈 Wide Receiver pic.twitter.com/EJG5a6EvNJ— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 28, 2023
Initially entering the transfer portal on December 11, Jackson, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, was not listed as a graduate student. However, an NCAA letter, obtained by Yahoo! Sports reporter Ross Dellenger, revealed that two-time transfers would be permitted to play in the next fall without requiring a waiver. This marks a departure from the previous requirement for Jackson to be a graduate transfer to be eligible in 2024.
Cal QB Sam Jackson V is in the transfer portal. This will be his second transfer after he moved from TCU to Cal. Jackson isn't listed as a graduate student.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 11, 2023
Jackson commenced his college career at TCU before transferring to Cal. Now, with only three college seasons and never playing more than five games in a season, he arrives at Auburn. Notably, Jackson has not recorded a reception at either TCU or Cal. Auburn seems content with its quarterback situation, showing no signs of pursuing a transfer in that position, especially after securing four-star incoming freshman Walker White to replace Robby Ashford.
Transfer news: In a clarification the NCAA sent schools Thursday & obtained by @YahooSports, multi-time transfers – including football players – who enter the portal this fall will be eligible to play at their new school *next year* without a waiver.https://t.co/hvcubN9c4b pic.twitter.com/ULPJANkQVP
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 22, 2023
It appears that Jackson is in the process of a significant transition away from playing quarterback, despite starting as Cal’s quarterback at the beginning of the 2023 season.
