McArthur High School senior Jaylyn Jones is in the running for the 2026 Nat Moore Trophy, and he hopes to become the first safety to win it. The four-star prospect from Liberty City has committed to the University of Miami, according to CBS News Miami, which spoke with him about his path to football.
Jones is known for his hard-hitting style on Friday nights. He said he likes “hitting someone for real” more than anything else. As a young player, he dealt with Osgood-Schlatter disease, a knee condition that causes pain and can limit running. His coach said Jones understood the game well even when his body would not let him play it fully.
Jones said the sound of his mother’s voice from the sidelines kept him going once he could run again. Now she is battling ovarian cancer. She raised her children as a single parent, and Jones said her illness has forced him to grow up quickly. “She is such a strong woman,” he said.
Jones said his decision to stay in South Florida was about more than his own career. He said many local players had long left the area for college, and this year a group of them wanted to build something special at Miami. He would also be the first in his family to graduate from college.
Fans can nominate South Florida’s top high school players at NatMooreTrophy.com. The CBS Miami Nat Moore Trophy is sponsored by FPL.
