Wide receiver Makai Jackson is no longer with the IU football team, a source confirmed to The Daily Hoosier on Monday.
The 6-foot and 197-pound Jackson is not listed on the team’s online roster.
A transfer from Appalachian State during the offseason, Jackson appeared in four games this season, playing a total of 51 snaps according to PFF.
The move follows a recent trend in college football.
Because he has not carved-out a significant role thus far, Jackson likely intends to use 2025 as a redshirt season and find a new home next year. Coming into this season Jackson had one year of eligibility remaining and had not taken a redshirt year. By playing in four or less games, he can play a fifth-season elsewhere, or perhaps even return to Indiana.
Current IU receiver E.J. Williams did the same thing a year ago and ended up coming back to the Hoosiers. Wideout Donaven McCulley followed the same plan and transferred to Michigan.
There is a movement to allow all athletes to play five seasons irrespective of how many games they’ve played each season, but the NCAA has not provided clarity to this point.
Jackson caught three passes for 15 yards in a reserve role. He was thought to be a competitor for more significant playing time but suffered an injury during spring practice.
In two seasons with Appalachian State, Jackson amassed 73 catches for 1,163 yards and seven touchdowns. He also ran five times for 90 yards and a score.
Jackson was a teammate of Indiana receiver Elijah Sarratt in 2022 at Saint Francis. That season he recorded 85 catches for 991 yards and nine touchdowns. Added 13 rushes for 44 yards and three kickoff returns for 90 yards and one touchdown.
After losing Jackson and Michigan transfer Tyler Morris, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the spring, Indiana is relatively thin at wide receiver. Jackson has the sixth-most snaps on the team behind Sarratt, Omar Cooper, Jr., Williams, Jonathan Brady and Charlie Becker. Freshman Lebron Bond is just behind Jackson with 40 snaps, and his role could expand slightly going forward.
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