Calabasas senior Jaylen Blizzard looking to bring his talent to the next level
CALABASAS, Calif. (BVM) – In the era of COVID-19, senior Jaylen Blizzard is working to achieve what few can in normal conditions: lead his team to a championship and secure a Division I football scholarship.
At just six years old, Blizzard began his football career on the Calabasas Raiders youth team. He played in his first game at age 8, and a couple years later, he scored three touchdowns on the day of his grandmother’s funeral.
He began his career with the Calabasas High School Coyotes playing on the junior varsity team. A versatile player, Blizzard played on offense as a wide receiver, special teams as a punt and kick returner, and on defense as a defensive back. In his 2018 season with the Coyotes, he scored 30 touchdowns, noting that a big factor of his success was his ability to create separation and how he got off the ball. Of course, his talent did not go unnoticed, and he was on the varsity team by the 2019 season.
Now, at age 17, Blizzard is eager to make a name for himself. Last season, he recorded five touchdowns and 16 receptions for over 400 yards. While an impressive statistic on its own, it is even more admirable considering he played behind four-star recruits Johnny Wilson, who has since begun his collegiate career at Arizona State University, and Jermaine Burton, who is at the University of Georgia. Blizzard will now play alongside Amoni Butler, another senior, as they strive to fill the shoes of Wilson and Burton.
Through their social media exchanges, it is evident Blizzard and Butler are quite the duo. Not only do they have tremendous support for each other, but they also push each other to work harder. As a result of their training, the two have grown to be quick and difficult to guard.
Blizzard is a dual-sport athlete, specializing in the 100-meter dash on the track and field team. Standing at just 5’11 and 158 pounds, speed is what makes him stand out.
“For me, my skill set and the X-factor for me is gonna be speed.” Blizzard said in an interview with Ryan Wright, later noting that hard work is another important aspect. “If you want to be better at your craft just continue to work, work, and work.”
And Blizzard has most definitely been putting in the work.
The young star has since gotten the attention of Division I Sacramento State. Luckily, Blizzard will still get the opportunity to continue to showcase his talents on the field this season. The California Interscholastic Federation has announced that football will resume at the start of the 2021 calendar year, with practices beginning in December of this year.
Blizzard has some serious work to put in if he wants to see his team go far this season. After a long 2019 season, the Coyotes saw the departure of their head coach, along with many players. While a lot of their star players graduated this past year, many others transferred out of Calabasas High School.
Blizzard and his new head coach, Cary Harris, have their work cut out for them, and yet they might just stand a chance.
