Tayven Jackson Rewards Indiana Offensive Linemen With Dinner at Janko's Little Zagreb

Part of Tayven Jackson's development as a quarterback comes with growing as a leader. Veteran offensive linemen Mike Katic and Matthew Bedford said Jackson has already earned their trust, and Jackson is rewarding their improved pass protection with a steak dinner.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana offensive line has kept quarterback Tayven Jackson clean this season, and they're about to eat well because of it.

Jackson is working to become a team leader in his first year at Indiana and second year of college football, and that starts with building relationships with his teammates, especially when they play at a high level. So he has invited the offensive line to dinner.

Some offensive linemen originally suggested Texas Roadhouse, but Jackson upped the ante. He plans to treat them to a steak dinner at Janko's Little Zagreb, a Bloomington staple, Thursday night.

"They can eat whatever they want," Jackson said.

Noted. 

"I'll get some spicy meatballs and probably a New York Strip, a loaded tater," said Mike Katic, Indiana's senior left guard. "I'm excited."

Individual and position-wide improvements have been noticeable from Indiana's offensive line in its first year with coach Bob Bostad. 

After allowing 38 sacks in 12 games last season, Jackson has been sacked just once through three games in 2023. It happened on a play where Jackson had more than three seconds in the pocket, but he ultimately scrambled out of bounds for a two-yard loss, virtually untouched by Indiana State defenders. Statistically, that was ruled a sack. Practically, the big guys up front have kept Jackson upright and free from wear-and-tear. 

"I wasn't here last year, and there's talk in the facility and everything that that's huge from last year," Jackson said. "When guys do that, you've got to reward them. I think that comes with leadership."

Indiana offensive lineman Matthew Bedford protects quarterback Tayven Jackson as he winds up to pass against Indiana State :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Indiana coach Tom Allen said Monday the offensive line gave Jackson time to throw on Saturday against Louisville, and overall, there's no question they've made progress. Still, Allen demands continued improvement, especially finishing blocks in the run game. 

Indiana had a chance to tie or take the lead with less than five minutes in the fourth quarter against Louisville, but running back Josh Henderson was stuffed at the goal line. While the play call drew criticism, Henderson had nowhere to go as the offensive line failed to create a running lane.

"The ball, where it was on the last play, [we need to be able] to get that yard," Allen said. "To be able to score a touchdown to get it to where it needs to be. It starts up front."

Allen mentioned Monday that one of the downsides to the quarterback competition between Jackson and fellow redshirt freshman Brendan Sorsby was that their teammates didn't know who to look to as a leader throughout the offseason. Even things as simple as organizing post-practice sessions with quarterbacks and wide receivers begged the question, "Who initiates that?" Allen said. 

Add their age and inexperience, and the challenge grew even greater. Allen said in July that he had plenty of one-on-one conversations with Jackson and Sorsby about becoming leaders. For players with just one year of college football experience before 2023, it's not easy – and sometimes not received well by older players – to immediately try to command the room. 

For Allen, growing into this role starts with relationship building, which was a big part of the entire team's offseason. Allen invited position groups to his house for dinner and team-bonding activities like basketball and cornhole, and he organized a team-wide paintball event. In July, the Hoosiers partook in leadership training exercises, and Allen saw Jackson and Sorsby, specifically, rise throughout the process.

"When you build a relationship with your teammates, you earn the right to speak in their life," Allen said. "If you don't, and you try to speak in their life in a critical moment of a heated workout or whatever, it doesn't usually end well."

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) celebrates his touchdown with teammates in the first half against the Indiana State Sycamores at Memorial Stadium / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Jackson was named starting quarterback after the Hoosiers' 41-7 win over Indiana State on Sept. 8. In addition to his development on the field, he's focused on growing his leadership traits. For Jackson, this starts with earning trust from his teammates through his own play, effort and toughness.

Katic, a fifth-year senior, said a young quarterback like Jackson can gain trust from older players through their demeanor on the sideline. No matter how a drive ends, Katic has seen Jackson approach the offensive line huddles with encouragement.

Katic said Jackson is a high-character guy with a great personality and sense of humor. He even described Jackson as a "smiley guy," who's always ready to go, but he can get ahead of himself. 

Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Carter Smith said Jackson was so eager to play Louisville that he had to pull him back into the huddle. Katic described a similar situation. 

"Sometimes when we're huddling on the sideline, he'll just run out on the field and I'm like, 'Tayven, get back here. We have to break the huddle together,'" Katic said. "He's so excited to get on the field and just run the play. We love it."

Offensive lineman Matthew Bedford, who's in his sixth year at Indiana, said Jackson has already gained his trust through how he works and never complains. Bedford has noticed Jackson make mistakes at times, but his response has been revealing. 

"I look up to [Jackson] because of the fashion in which he fixes his mistakes," Bedford said. "Maybe one day he makes the wrong mistake and [offensive coordinator Walt] Bell rips him right there. But the next day, he comes in and gets it right, and coach Bell's praising him right after. So he's just on a steady climb of being the quarterback we need."

Indiana offensive lineman Matthew Bedford lifts up quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) after his touchdown against the Indiana State Sycamores at Memorial Stadium / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Despite a 21-0 halftime deficit against Louisville last week, Bedford said there was no change in Jackson's energy; in fact, it was enhanced. In the halftime locker room, Bedford believes Jackson inspired Indiana to start strong in the second half.

"He was a rabid dog like, 'Bro, come on. Let's get in the end zone. We're not stopping. Nobody's scared.' That was the energy, and I fed off of it," Bedford said. "And you could see it spread to the entire offense."

"I feel like sometimes I wear my emotions on my sleeve a little bit," Jackson said. "But I'm an emotional player. I want to win really bad. I hate losing."

After Indiana recovered an onside kick, Jackson led the Hoosiers on a quick scoring drive, capped off by a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jaylin Lucas. Bedford described Jackson's demeanor in the huddle as confident, saying Jackson reminds him of former Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the way he carries himself and makes sure his teammates are locked in to the play call.

Allen demands a quarterback that can speak with confidence and clarity, articulating the vision of what needs to be accomplished and motivating others to do so. Certain guys have that and others don't, but Allen believes that's one of Jackson's strengths.

"[Jackson] has the potential to be the best verbal leader we've had at that position in all my years here," Allen said. "We really haven't had that to the extent I think you need it ... I think you can see the guys, they believe in him."

Moving forward, Jackson continues to demand more out of himself, both in the technical aspects of football and off the field. He spends most of his time with the offense, but said he plans on building more relationships with the defense and special teams to earn everyone's trust.

"I've just got to do a better job leading this team," Jackson said. "And going out there and putting this team in the best situation for us to win."

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