Interview: Ascending 2021 Utah LB Jayden Ah You Talks Football and Recruiting
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
If there is one thing to be true about Utah high school football, opposing 4A teams do not want to play Orem. The Tigers are about as dominating as it gets in their classification taking back-to-back titles back to the house. One of the standouts in Orem’s 2018 championship run was Class of 2021 linebacker Jayden Ah You. Ah You racked up 59 tackles. 7.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sack and picked up two fumbles on the way to hoisting the trophy. With an offer on the table from Navy, other west coast schools are looking in on the now 6-2, 230-pound, playmaker. Seems like a perfect time for an RNG interview!
Interview
Jayden, the Tigers were a beast last season rolling through the 4A Utah ranks. What was the championship run like for you in the playoffs?
“It was exciting and fun playing with my cousins and friends. It was cool, we had a lot of Polynesian boys on the team and the coaches, they are Poly too. Playing with my cousins and friends was fun.”
What was that personal feeling when the game against Dixie was over and you guys had won 60-13?
“I expected it, but at the same time it was awesome for me to accomplish that with the team. It was amazing. It was cool to win back-to-back championships. We are planning on a three-peat next year.”
Within the Tigers defense, what is your role and what are your responsibilities?
“On the Tigers’ defense, Noah (Sewell) and I take lead. As a linebacker, we need to make sure we control the defense. You have to make sure everyone knows the play, where they are suppose to be and that we are all on point ready to go etc… We need to make sure to do our assignments and help out others if needed.We control everything and help everyone know what they are doing and get them into their place. We keep everyone in check and make sure they are good.
“The coaches like to have me blitz a lot. Sometimes I used as a defensive end. I am good at pass rushing and I can get good pressure on the quarterback. They like me switching from weak to strongside. When Noah needs a break, I go to the strongside. They can use me anywhere on the defense at linebacker.”
What are the things you feel you do well on the field at this point in your career?
“As I mentioned, I am versatile. I can rush the QB, drop back into coverage, and I can play strong or weak stopping the run. I can do whatever my coach needs me to do out there.”
Which areas of your game are you focused on this offseason with your workouts?
“I really want to improve my film watching. I watched a lot last year, but I want to do better this year. I am working on speeding my recognition time up on plays. My dad and I watch one to two hours of film every night and break down the opponent. I write down each play the other team uses in the game footage and then my dad and I talk about it and talk about what plays we would need to run to be successful.
“We study the opponents and players and watch for any weaknesses. That is one thing my dad always does with me to make sure I am prepared for the game mentally. I also have to sit and visualize each game and situation. I would like to speed up my play recognition even more. I feel like you can never be too fast on that. But I can usually tell what they are running when they start to set up and that is because of the film we do.”
Will your role on the team change at all in 2019? Are you going to play any offense?
“Yes. I will play some tight end and fullback, that hybrid role, and I will be in the slot some next year.”
Are you excited about the big roles on offense?
“Oh yeah. For sure. I am ready to score some touchdowns and get some points on the board.”
Have you gone to any national camps this offseason?
“Yes. I went to the Nike Opening Regional in LA.”
How did that go?
“It was good. I tried to get the most reps that I could. It was hard to get reps at that camp. That was my first camp like that to compete at that I had ever attended. It was a good experience for me and I learned a lot. It was good to see other top players and gauge my skills.”
Do you have any upcoming camps you may attend?
“I might go to the Oakland Nike Regional in May.”
You have the offer from Navy, which schools are showing interest?
“I am receiving interest from Utah State, BYU, Utah, UCLA and Arizona State. With Navy, I am interested in them a lot. I have been studying about the school and the coaches. They have an excellent program.”
Have you visited any schools yet?
“Yes. I took an unofficial to UCLA and to BYU.”
How did the UCLA visit go?
“It was amazing. I love the program there. I love the coaches, players, and the atmosphere at UCLA. The coaches are on it. It was awesome to see the relationships with the players and the coaches.”
What about BYU, how did that go?
“I am LDS, so I love the background of the school, the standards and the expectations that they have for their students. It was cool to see the program will back me up with my standards.”
Do you have any planned visits upcoming?
“Yes. I am planning on visiting Navy.”
Are you competing in any other varsity sports?
“Yes. I am competing in track.”
Which events?
“The shot and I am working on the discus now.”
Back to football. What motivates you when you step on the field for a game?
“I am always grinding. I feel slept on, that makes me grind harder. There is a football tradition in my family. My cousins are ballers, we have a lot of history in the sport. That is one of my areas where I have to not overthink it all the time. It can be stressful trying to fill such big shoes that have gone before me. I feel like I have to work harder to be there and prove I belong, but it is a challenge I am willing to take. I think it makes me work harder to be the best I can be.
“My dad always tells me to not worry that, I need to go out and make my own way and just work hard and do me and I feel like that is what I am doing. I work almost every day training, exercising, competing and studying other players and teams. I like to test myself and always compete with the best. I seek out the top players and want to compete against them.”
You kind of answered my next question, but either way; when the lights are not on and no one is in the stands and it is just you working hard in the weight room or on the field trying to get better, what motivates you then?
“I love competing, it drives me. When there is another kid across from me, it drives me to go hard. I love winning, losing sucks.”
Well said. Jayden, it was great getting the interview in with you today. I appreciate your time and wish you success with your track season and offseason workouts.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Ah You family; Jayden Ah You at UCLA