COOKEVILLE – Facing the Tennessee Tech footballoffense in 2026 is a tall order.
How tall?
Try going against Jax Leatherwood
, who Tennessee Tech personnel have measured at 6-foot-8⅛ at quarterback. He can see the entire field from his view and, as a result, has improved the passing game for a college football team that has more wins (16) over the last two seasons than any FCS or FBS team in Tennessee.Leatherwood, who weighs 244 pounds, is a transfer from Southeast Missouri who towers overhis teammates and most defenders. He's proven to be a big problem for Tech's opponents.
Jax Leatherwood's journey to Tennessee Tech football
This is not the first year Leatherwood has played football
in Cookeville at Tucker Stadium. He was there in 2025 as Southeast Missouri's quarterback.
Leatherwood tore his MCL on Oct. 2 in 2025 against UT Martin. He was expected to be out four to six weeks, but things looked so grim three weeks later, after the Redhawks went down 21-3 in the first half at Tennessee Tech. So his Southeast Missouri coaches asked Leatherwood if he felt well enough to play.
"My head coach (Tom Matukewicz) said, 'Are you good to go,' and I said, 'I'm good enough.'" Leatherwood said.
Leatherwood was good enough to give Tennessee Tech some trouble in the second half. He tossed a 38-yard touchdown pass with 9:45 left that trimmed the Golden Eagles' lead to 35-23. He finished the game 27-of-38 passing for 278 yards.
Tennessee Tech third-year football coach Bobby Wilder and some of his assistants congratulated Leatherwood after the game. About two months later, after the college transfer portal opened, Leatherwood and Wilder had another conversation.
"Right when I entered the portal, they were my first call," Leatherwood said. "They said, 'We remember playing you. You're a stud of a player. We'd love to have you here.' "
Did Tennessee Tech basketball recruit Jax Leatherwood to play for them?
Leatherwood is not only taller than all of his teammates, but as tall as every Tennessee Tech basketball player except 6-9 center De'ante Green.
"(Tennessee Tech basketball coach) Tobin Anderson tried to recruit Jax a couple of weeks ago when we went over to Hooper Eblen Center to do a press conference and I had to get Tobin to back off," Wilder said. "I was like, 'Hey pal, this guy's a football player.'"
Leatherwood is, in fact, a really good football player who has led the No. 15-ranked Golden Eagles to a 5-1 overall record and 3-1 in their first year in the Southern Conference.
What Tennessee Tech coach Bobby Wilder said about playing tall QB
Kekoa Visperas, at 6-foot, was Tech's quarterback in 2025 and led the Golden Eagles to their best season in history along with an FCS playoff berth.
The offense naturally had to adjust to a quarterback who is eight inches taller, but Wilder said the transition has been almost seamless.
"When you're 6-8, you don't have to slide and try to find a lane to throw because you can see the entire field," Wilder said. "That's such a big advantage for a quarterback. He's got an elite level view. We've got 6-5 linemen, and he can see over them. When you've got a 6-foot quarterback, he can't see over a 6-5 lineman. You've got to find lanes in between the tackles and the guards and the center."
Jax Leatherwood uses height to spread the wealth
Leatherwood was a three-star football prospect who also played basketball and volleyball at Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego. He chose to play football in college because his height at quarterback gave him a bigger advantage.
"Nothing beats being a quarterback," Leatherwood said. "You've got control of the field; you're around a hundred-something guys every day. As a quarterback at my height means I can see everything and that definitely helps a lot."
It has helped utilize a large number of Tech's receivers. Leatherwood is ranked 11th in the FCS, averaging 276.7 passing yards per game while completing passes to 13 different receivers.
"With Jax being as tall as he is, he can scan the field, locate us and put the ball exactly where it needs to be," said Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tre' Holloway, who has 26 catches for 328 yards and three touchdowns. "It's amazing for a receiver to be able to look back and see his quarterback no matter where you are on the field. You don't realize how big of an advantage that is until you have it."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meet Tennessee Tech football QB Jax Leatherwood, who has offense's best view at 6-8
