All-County football: Offense

Tayven Jackson has long since outgrown the “little brother” chants he heard at football and basketball games during his sophomore year. But in some ways, the Center Grove senior still views older sibling Trayce Jackson-Davis as a measuring stick.

Much like Trayce didn’t fully blossom until his junior year of high school, Tayven has found his stride in the back half of his prep career. He quarterbacked the Trojans’ football team to three consecutive Class 6A state championship games, winning the last two.

After steering the way to a repeat title this season, Jackson is the Daily Journal’s Offensive Player of the Year.

When comparisons between the two brothers are drawn these days, it’s usually Tayven drawing them and not someone else. He’s done more than enough by now to carve out his own place in the spotlight.

“Just having a brother that has so many accolades and such a huge name, I’ve just been underneath him where I’m maybe in his shadow,” he said, “but I think I’ve worked hard for the things I’ve gotten and they weren’t just given to me because of who I was and what my name was.”

A four-star recruit bound for the University of Tennessee next month, Jackson has made steady progress throughout his career under center for the Trojans. Not only has his passing yardage increased every season (from 1,215 as a sophomore to 1,842 this fall), but his completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio have improved significantly as well.

This season, Jackson completed 66.3% of his pass attempts and threw 21 TDs against just three picks.

“Tayven has improved in three years more than any quarterback we’ve ever had here,” Center Grove coach Eric Moore said. “He’s a playmaker on the field, he’s been a great teammate and he’s just been a pleasure to coach.”

He’s also arguably the most naturally talented all-around athlete to come through Johnson County in many years. Jackson has caused several to marvel at his multi-sport prowess; he was named the county’s player in basketball last winter, and Trojans coach Zach Hahn believes that Jackson could have been a major Division I recruit in that sport had he chosen to concentrate on it.

Hahn has also raved about Jackson’s prowess on the golf course, where he regularly went toe to toe with the top players on Center Grove’s state championship team from last spring, and in other sports. Jackson even came out for the track team midway through last spring and earned a state medal as part of the Trojans’ 4×400 relay quartet. He likely could have become a Division I athlete in at least four or five sports had he placed his focus on any one of them.

But the gridiron has been where Jackson’s star shines most brightly, and where he will continue his athletic career.

For the next few years, he’ll be donning the loud orange of the Volunteers. It was here at Center Grove, though, where Jackson built himself up, stepping out of a very long shadow and becoming a legend in his own right.

No matter how far he soars, that connection to his local roots will remain.

“I had an opportunity to go somewhere else after my sophomore season, and I chose to stay here because I wanted to win and I wanted to get this community up to where it should be,” Jackson said. “I think the community and coach Moore did a great job of building me up to the player I am today.”

A pretty damn good one.

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The Daily Journal’s All-County football offense for 2021:

QB Tayven Jackson, Center Grove senior: An IFCA Top 50 selection who led the Trojans to a repeat Class 6A state title … Completed 66.3% of his passes for 1,842 yards and 21 TDs while being picked off just three times … Also rushe for five touchdowns … Signed to play at the University of Tennessee.

RB Titus Phillips, Franklin senior: Broke out with a 204-yard rushing game against Whiteland and led all Johnson County rushers with 1,040 yards, scoring nine TDs … Caught 12 passes for 85 yards … Earned All-Mid-State Conference honors.

RB Drew Wheat, Center Grove junior: Named to the IFCA’s Top 50 team … Gained 1,003 yards on the ground, averaging 7.7 yards a carry and scoring 13 touchdowns … Caught nine passes for 154 yards and two more TDs … Figures to be the focal point of the Trojans’ offense next season.

WR Caleb Dewey, Edinburgh junior: Caught 56 balls for 1,079 yards, topping the 1,000-yard mark for the second year in a row … Had five 100-yard games, including a nine-catch, 231-yard effort against Northeastern … Also made 29 tackles on defense and intercepted three passes.

WR Harrison Stomps, Center Grove senior: Provided a go-to receiver for Jackson in the passing game, hauling in a team-best 32 receptions for 408 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans rolled to another unbeaten season and a second straight Class 6A title.

OL Sam Buras, Center Grove senior: Ball State commit named to IFCA’s Top 50 team … Paved the way for an offense that averaged 350 yards a week on the way to a second straight state championship.

OL Jacob Newlin, Center Grove senior: Anchored the Trojans’ front five from the center position, leading the way to 66 touchdowns (45 rushing, 21 passing) in his first full season as a starter.

OL Tayton Schakel, Whiteland junior: Earned all-conference and Class 5A Junior All-State recognition after helping the Warriors rush for 265 yards per game … Also contributed 18 tackles on defense.

OL Austin Wiese, Center Grove junior: Started on the line for a second consecutive state championship, opening the holes for an offense that scored more than 40 points per game.

TE Shane Bennett, Center Grove senior: Switched to the offensive side of the ball and earned 6A All-State honors at tight end, catching 12 passes for 187 yards and three TDs … Signed to play on the defensive line at Indiana State next year.

TE Max Sullivan, Whiteland senior: An IFCA Top 50 pick and a Mr. Football Position Award winner … Caught three touchdown passes while also helping the Warriors as a run blocker … Had 43 tackles and three sacks on defense … Will play at Ball State next fall.

AP Riley Palmeter, Edinburgh senior: Helped the Lancers on both sides of the ball, passing for a county-high 2,257 yards and 27 touchdowns while also ranking second on the team with 59 tackles — including a game-saving stop at the goal line in a 34-30 victory over Northeastern.

K David Mathis, Whiteland senior: Made good on all 35 of his point-after attempts and hit on seven of nine field goal tries, with a long of 38 yards … Also averaged 43.9 yards on kickoffs with six touchbacks … Doubled as a midfielder on the Warriors’ soccer team.

Honorable mention

Noah Apgar, Greenwood; Carter Campbell, Greenwood; Max Clark, Franklin; Jordan Cox, Center Grove; Peyton Emberton, Whiteland; Brayden Gardner, Greenwood; Charlie Gardner, Center Grove; Danny Groves, Franklin; Will Hagan, Whiteland; R.C. Hall, Indian Creek; Eli Hohlt, Center Grove; John Shepard, Franklin; Jacob Smith, Whiteland; Caleb Turner, Edinburgh; Jarrett Turner, Edinburgh; Brandon Wheat, Center Grove