By Zach Cavanagh
SAN CLEMENTE – One year ago, Jaydel Jenkins was coming off his first bit of varsity football experience.
The wide receiver played in only five games as a junior with eight receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t overwhelming, but his tall frame and over-the-top speed showed enough promise to get an early contact from Columbia University.
That promise came to fruition as a senior as Jenkins exploded for 12 touchdowns and 1,003 yards on 51 receptions in all 12 games. Jenkins caught for over 110 yards five times, including a career-best night of 10 receptions, 166 yards and three touchdowns against Murrieta Valley on Sept. 7.
The year came full circle for Jenkins on Wednesday as he signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Columbia on National Signing Day at San Clemente High School.
Another great day to be a Triton as @jaydeljenkins signs with @ColumbiaLionsFB That’s what we do at San Clemente as we represent our community, work with players to get them to the next level and win championships. All part of the process at #onetownoneteam ✈️ ? pic.twitter.com/telWIywgPM
— Triton Football (@Tritonfootball) February 6, 2019
“It’s exciting,” Jenkins said. “I’m writing the next chapter. It’s all new.”
Jenkins joined teammates quarterback Brendan Costello, lineman Wakely Lush and punter Charlie Bein as signees for the Triton football team that were part of the San Clemente student-athletes honored in an on-campus ceremony. Costello (Oklahoma State), Lush (Stanford) and Bein (Air Force) all signed at the start of the early period in December.
Costello and Bein were tagged before the season to be big time signees, but players like Jenkins and Lush had to work for their offers.
“The beginning was a little slow, just waiting on colleges to contact me,” Jenkins said. “I was doing everything I could to get myself out there. Columbia has been in contact with me since spring of last year. When they first popped up, it was like ‘woah.’ It’s just crazy how things connect.”
Jenkins will be going out to Columbia in New York City in July, and he already has a group chat going with some other Orange County players going to Columbia, including JSerra quarterback Caden Bell and future roommate Railan Peace of Sunny Hills.
“It’s going to be very different,” Jenkins said. “East coast life will be very different from west coast life. (Going to school at Columbia is) going to be, in the long run, very good for me, setting me up for a good career.”
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Fourteen Student-Athletes Honored on Signing Day
The Tritons presented a collection of college signees in their ceremony on Wednesday.
Ty Matson, a top-five goal-scorer for the San Clemente boys water polo team in back-to-back league championships, signed on with UC San Diego to stay a Triton.
“I went on my official visit there last month, and I loved it,” Matson said. “The coach is great. All the players are great. They made semifinals of NCAA D-1 last year, and that was really impressive. I can’t wait to be a part that.”
With San Clemente, Matson aimed for championships, and the mission is no different in San Diego.
On his goals, Matson said, “Winning NCAA.”
Here are all the San Clemente High School athletes honored on National Signing Day:
Ellie Bagley (gymnastics, Washington), Charlie Bein (football, Air Force), Blake Bowen (soccer, San Diego State), Ellyn Casto (soccer, University of San Diego), Juliette Clark (water polo, Pomona College), Brendan Costello (football, Oklahoma State), Hanna Farnsworth (beach volleyball, Long Beach State), Raeonna Flores (softball, Concordia-Irvine), Samantha Gill (gymnastics, West Chester), Delainey Isles (lacrosse, Liberty), Jaydel Jenkins (football, Columbia), Wakely Lush (football, Stanford), Ty Matson (water polo, UC San Diego), Malia Yim (volleyball, George Washington)
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