Jaden Gibson breaks 49-year-old career receiving record
TIGER, Ga. (BVM) – Jaden Gibson entered Rabun County High School’s game against Elbert County 227 yards away from tying the Georgia High School record for career receiving yards. The senior wideout was also three touchdowns away from tying the state record for career touchdowns.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Gibson said.
Gibson had a great chance of breaking the records before the season was over but rather than wait any longer, the Georgia Southern commit decided to break both records that night. Gibson had 13 catches for 285 yards and four touchdowns, putting his career totals at 4,537 receiving yards as well as 49 career touchdowns.
“It was definitely a surprise because before the game I was pretty far away from both of them,” Gibson said.
The touchdown record was previously held by Travis Hunter, who set the record last season. However, the career receiving yards record was held by Georgia high school legend and Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame inductee, Stan Rome. Rome set the record back in 1973 with 4,477 career receiving yards and no one had come within 100 yards of that record until Gibson.
Already the 6-foot-1 wide receiver has 73 catches for 1,363 yards and 19 touchdowns. This coming after his breakout junior year in which the Rabun County wide receiver had 86 receptions for 1,878 yards and 19 touchdowns.
“We sling it around up here in Rabun County,” Gibson said.
The air attack that the Wildcats impose on opponents is perfect for Gibson. He originally made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver in part because of the glitz and glamor that comes with being a wideout and Rabun County gave him plenty of opportunities to show off.
“When I was catching them I liked that a lot more because I got all the glory most of the time,” Gibson said.
He may relish in the applause after a big catch or an appearance in the endzone but that definitely doesn’t mean Gibson thinks it’s all about him. He’s the first to credit his coach, Mike Davis, for putting him in an offense that allows him to thrive and the teammates he has around him.
“I’m pretty blessed to be in the position that I am,” Gibson said. “It’s pretty cool to be up there with all those names that are up there. I just happened to be in the right offense and I had the right quarterbacks for it.”
For his first three seasons, he had four-star quarterback and current Georgia Bulldog Gunner Stockton throwing to him. This year, he has Keegan Stover who is also lighting up the field with his own version of the Rabun County air raid.
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No matter who’s throwing him the ball, Gibson has found success with the Wildcats since he was a freshman.
Georgia Southern offered Gibson back in May and he then verbally committed to the Eagles in June. But only a few days after becoming one of the best wide receivers in Georgia high school football history, Gibson received his first power five offer from Virginia.
“It was pretty sweet,” Gibson said about receiving the offer. “It kind of happened fast.”
Gibson is still committed to Georgia Southern, he loves the offense they run and the atmosphere around the team but he’s still going to do his due diligence. He’s also more focused on finishing his record–breaking career with a Rabun County state championship.
A decision on his future will come and it’s likely that more programs will be looking at the 6-foot-1 receiver from Rabun County, but for now, the Wildcat is working with his teammates to achieve their goal.
“We’ve worked really hard for a state championship,” Gibson said.
