A younger Jackson State to hit the field in 2024

By Tolly Carr, HBCU Gameday
Reprinted – by Texas Metro News
https://hbcugameday.com

The upcoming season for Jackson State Football is poised to be an intriguing one, marked by a strategic use of the transfer portal by head coach T.C Taylor. The team is looking to build on the successes and challenges of last year’s 7-4 team. Coach Taylor’s approach to the transfer portal has evolved significantly from his first to his second year at the helm.

When asked about his approach to the portal, Coach Taylor reflected on the necessity of diving deep into it during his first year.

“You know, the first year I had to dive deep in to get going,” he said. “We had to go with it. But this year was a little bit different. We were a little more selective. We needed to replace a few key pieces on this team, but we didn’t go as deep as we did last year.”

The shift in strategy is evident as Coach Taylor highlights the importance of building from the ground up, particularly focusing on high school recruits.

“We got a good group of high school kids in here that’s going to make an impact,” he noted. This year, Jackson State has placed a greater emphasis on integrating talented freshmen, especially on the offensive line and in the running back room, where Coach Taylor sees a lot of potential. “Everybody talked about how deep the running back room is. We got some freshmen up in there that’s going to be really good.”

While the team continues to leverage the transfer portal, the approach has become more targeted. Coach Taylor emphasizes that the players they brought in through the portal this year are expected to make an immediate impact.

“In order to be successful this year, we know we grabbed a few guys out of there, but we expected those guys to make an immediate impact.”

This balanced strategy of blending experienced transfers with promising high school talent is designed to create a more sustainable and cohesive team dynamic. By focusing on building a solid foundation with high school recruits, Coach Taylor aims to ensure long-term success for Jackson State Football.

As the season approaches, fans and analysts alike are keen to see how this dual approach to team building will play out on the field. With a mix of seasoned transfers and eager freshmen, Jackson State is gearing up to make a significant impact this season, driven by a more refined and strategic use of the transfer portal under the leadership of T.C. Taylor.