2023 Football Roster

Dezmond Jackson
Dezmond Jackson
Brendan Maloney

18 Jiya Wright

  • Position Quarterback
  • Height 6-1
  • Weight 202
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Fort Wayne, Ind.

Biography

Third-year player enters his first season as ULM’s starting quarterback in 2023 . . . has appeared in six games and played a total of 87 offensive snaps over the last two seasons (2021-22) . . . established himself as one of ULM’s most athletic and explosive players during the 2023 summer Iron Hawk program, posting personal bests of 485 pounds in the squat, 330 on the bench, 4.03 in the Pro Agility as well as a team-best 39-inch vertical jump . . . his overall score of 97.5 percent ranked second on the Iron Hawk leaderboard, trailing only defensive lineman Adin Huntington (102) . . . 2022 SEASON (JUNIOR): Sidelined for an extended period of time in 2022 after suffering a rib injury in the season opener at Texas . . . appeared in two games: at Texas and at Army . . . took two snaps late in the fourth quarter at Army . . . played three snaps in the season opener at Texas before exiting the game with a rib injury suffered during a 3-yard gain late in the third quarter . . . was locked in a tightly tested battle with Chandler Rogers for the starting nod at quarterback throughout preseason camp . . . 2021 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Saw action in four games (at Coastal Carolina, vs. Georgia State, at App State and vs. Arkansas State) and played 82 offensive snaps in 2021 while working behind Rhett Rodriguez and Rogers at quarterback . . . accounted for 291 yards total offense and three touchdowns . . . completed 10-of-20 throws (.500) for 164 yards, two TDs and two interceptions . . . ran 33 times for 127 yards 3.8 avg.) and one score . . . played 62 snaps (two-plus quarters) at App State and produced 249 yards total offense and two scores . . . connected on 9-of-17 passes for 158 yards against the Mountaineers, including a 13-yard TD strike to Dariyan Wiley in the third quarter; also led the team in rushing with 20 carries for 91 yards, including a 3-yard TD run in the second quarter; his 40-yard completion to Jevin Frett helped set up his first career rushing TD . . . capped off a 12-play, 70-yard drive in the fourth quarter vs. Georgia State with his first career TD pass, a 6-yard toss to Coby Cavil on a fourth-and-2 play; rushed seven times for 41 yards on the scoring drive . . . JUNIOR COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS: Received COVID-19 season of competition waiver . . . started all three games for Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College during the 2021 spring season . . . accounted for 345 yards total offense and three scores . . . threw for 251 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions . . . carried 19 times for 64 yards (3.4 avg.) and one TD . . . hit 15-of-27 throws for 197 yards with one score and one interception at Garden City . . . produced 191 yards total offense and two scores in the season opener at Highland; rushed six times for 135 yards, including an 88-yard TD run, and completed 9-of-21 passes for 56 yards with one TD and one interception . . . enrolled at Fort Scott in the fall of 2020 after transferring from NCAA Division II Florida Tech, which eliminated its football program due to financial concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic . . . 2018 SEASON AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Redshirted . . . HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS AND PERSONAL DATA: Started 21 consecutive games at quarterback for Coach Chad Zolman at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana; compiled a 16-5 record (.762) as a starter . . . selected first-team all-state by the Indiana Football Coaches Association as a senior; also earned first-team all-area and all-conference honors . . . named 2017 News-Sentinel Player of the Year after accounting for 3,057 yards total offense and 39 touchdowns while leading the Spartans to an 8-2 record . . . also presented the Euell A. Wilson Award as the Summit Athletic Conference Player of the Year . . . completed 167-of-247 throws (.676) for 2,307 yards, 28 TDs and 11 interceptions as a senior . . . recorded eight 200-yard passing games, including the first seven in a row . . . connected on over 70 percent of his passes in four games . . . led the Spartans in rushing with 750 yards and 11 TDs in 2017 . . . posted three 100-yard rushing games . . . produced his second 300-yard passing game vs. South Side, completing 22-of-28 tosses for 326 yards and four TDs . . . accounted for 338 yards total offense and five scores vs. Carroll; carried 19 times for 111 yards and two TDs . . . went 20-of-24 passing (.833) for 278 yards, four TDs and one interception vs. North Side . . . racked up 355 yards total offense vs. Snider; ran 29 times for 142 yards and scored a career-high four rushing TDs . . . hit 21-of-28 passes for 265 yards and a career-best five TDs vs. Bishop Dwenger . . . completed 20-of-28 throws for a career-high 343 yards and four scores vs. Concordia Lutheran, including a career-long 68-yard TD strike . . . amassed a career-best 401 yards total offense and five TDs vs. Northrop; rushed 17 times for a career-high 176 yards and one score . . . connected on 91-of-154 passes (.591) for 1,275 yards, 10 TDs and seven interceptions as a junior in 2016 . . . also paced the Spartans ground game with 145 attempts for 990 yards (6.8 avg.) and 12 TDs . . . registered four 100-yard rushing games and scored multiple rushing TDs in three games . . . set season highs for rushing yards (144) and rushing TDs (three) vs. Warsaw . . . his prep career totals included 5,349 yards total offense and 61 total TDs; completed 265-of-411 career passes (.645) for 3,632 yards, 38 TDs and 18 interceptions; added 1,717 career rushing yards and 23 rushing TDs . . . born March 4, 2000 . . . son of David Wright and Jill Howard; stepfather is Scott Howard . . . earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies from ULM in December 2022 . . . currently pursuing a master’s in business administration (MBA).

Statistics

Season:
2023

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 13

    2021Sophomore

    Quarterback
    6'1" 200 lbs
    13
  • 18

    2022Junior

    Quarterback
    6'1" 202 lbs
    18
  • 18

    2023Senior

    Quarterback
    6'1" 202 lbs
    18