Former Utah running back Ja’Quinden Jackson has a new home.
After entering the transfer portal shortly following Utah’s Las Vegas Bowl loss to Northwestern, Jackson announced Friday that he will be continuing his college football career at Arkansas.
Jackson joins an Arkansas team that went 4-8 in 2023, finishing at the bottom of the SEC West with a 1-7 conference record. The former Ute could provide a boost at running back, as the Razorbacks’ running backs room was led by AJ Green, who rushed for 312 yards and two touchdowns on 67 carries, and Rashod Dubinion, who rushed for 260 yards and one score.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson led the Razorbacks in rushing with 447 yards on 161 carries, but transferred to UCF this offseason.
After transferring from Texas to Utah after the 2020 season, the Dallas native played three seasons for Utah, moving from quarterback to running back in 2022 after a deluge of injuries to the position.
After finishing the 2022 season with 531 yards and nine touchdowns, Jackson seemed poised to take a step forward at running back this season, but was limited by an ongoing ankle injury this season.
He started 12 games in the 2023 campaign as Utah’s lead running back, carrying the ball 161 times for 797 yards and scoring four touchdowns.
The “22 Forever” scholarship recipient, Jackson was a fan favorite at Utah due to his willingness to do anything for the team. Fans also connected with his resiliency, not only on the field, but also off it.