MUSTANG — Kaydin Jones figured he would be a playmaker from day one.
The four-star Jenks running back learned from who he calls, “the best” — his father — former OU tailback and Jenks football legend Kejuan Jones.
With early morning workouts, late-night runs and countless trips to college camps, his dad helped him hone his skills to prepare for the rigors of Oklahoma high school football in the Tulsa metro area.
“I knew I was that guy right away,” Jones said following Jenks’ 45-13 win over Mustang.
“I’ve been attacking defenses and making plays ever since I played my first game in the first grade. To see what I’m doing now is just a testament to all the work I’ve put in.”
Jones left the opposing fans in awe during the decisive win, showcasing his talents after moving to Jenks from Broken Arrow a year ago.
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The 6-foot, 185-pound running back carried the ball 13 times for 208 yards and three touchdowns. His powerful frame allowed him to break over two dozen tackles, consistently gaining yardage and securing crucial first downs.
With just minutes remaining in the second quarter, head coach Keith Riggs decided Jones’ night was over. He handed the reins to junior tailback Aidan Jordan throughout the second half.
“I think the most impressive thing about Kaydin is just how mature he is physically and mentally,” Riggs said. “As he’s gotten older, that aspect of his game has really grown. He had a great night tonight, as he typically does, and we expect him to continue producing for us.”
This victory marked Jenks’ second consecutive win at a pivotal juncture in the season.
After facing off against Class 6A-I heavyweights like Owasso, Union, and the six-time defending state champions Bixby, the team endured some tough losses early on.
The road ahead remains challenging, with an upcoming matchup against undefeated Deer Creek.
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“We’ve always known how good we were — we just couldn’t get it to click together,” Jones said. “Going into later into the season, that’s when we really start playing our best ball.”
Jones has been on a tear over the start of his junior season, amassing 837 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns through Week 6. He holds offers from the likes of college football’s best in Alabama, OU, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and Texas A&M, among others.
However, accumulating Division I offers isn’t his only motivation.
Jones is determined to lead the program to a 19th state championship — an honor his father helped secure three times in the early 2000s.
“I can never be too good,” Jones said. “Being a four-star is cool and all, but I want to be the No. 1 player in the country. I want to say I played at UCO at the end of the year and lifted that gold ball. So I’m going to keep pushing for that as long as I’m here.”
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Four-star RB Kaydin Jones following in dad’s footsteps at Jenks
