Kaden Jolley '19 Recruiting Profile

DISCIPLINE--RED STRIPER TO MVP

    Discipline. This is probably what separates me from most prospective college athletes. I have always been a big, tough kid.  Since my three month old check up I have been off the charts for height and weight.  “He’s a whopper,” the nurse would say as she wrote down my stats in my chart.  Being larger than the rest of the kids my age was typically an advantage in most sports I played.  That all changed in 4^th grade football.  I was highlighted on the field by a BIG, RED STRIPE down my helmet which indicated that I wasn’t allowed to touch the ball. The coaches loved my size but something clicked in me at 9 years old.  I don’t want to be defined by a red stripe, I thought. 

    I made a list of all the things I wasn’t going to eat for a year.  No candy. No cake. No cookies. No ice cream. No soda. I was committed to working out hard at least 5 days a week.  I also figured that I was saving my parents at least a dollar a day by not eating these treats.  So I devised a plan.  I REALLY wanted the Death Star Lego which was over $350.  So, I convinced my parents to pay me a dollar a day for a year if I didn’t eat anything on my forbidden list.  Fast forward.. I did it!  By age 10, I realized an important concept.  I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.  I built the Death Star Lego and was not a RED STRIPER the following year. 

    As a result, I am now 18 and I haven’t had candy, cake, or soda in 8 years.  I am a straight A student.  I still love Lego and Star Wars.  I have also applied this discipline to my current educational, fitness, and work goals. I am disciplined on and off the field.  This drive carried me from starting freshman, to starting JV, to lettering on the varsity team and playing in the 5A state playoffs my freshman year.  My first varsity play that year I was able to sack the quarter back at Regis Jesuit.  What a great way to start my varsity career.  My sophomore year I started defensive end on varsity and was off to a great season until I had a season ending injury.  After all my years of hard work and dedication I was frustrated but made the most of learning and observing from the sidelines as we played through the quarter finals of the state playoffs.  My junior year, I started varsity as defensive end and helped my team secure an undefeated season and grab the league championship title.  I was also awarded all conference MVP for defense, first team all conference. first team academic all state, and 2nd team all state.  I am excited to see where my discipline, drive and passion will take me.  My Senior year I was awarded All Conference Defense MVP again and 1st team all conference.  Who knew that a red stripe would have such a profound effect on my life and help me continue to overcome any obstacles in my way.