Hutchings is an emerging junior
THE LATEST: Forney (Texas) is not going to make the playoffs this year. They were definitely bit by the injury bug which called for a number of players to play out of position for the good of the team. Jaylon Hutchings is one of those guys that did what he had to for the best of the team and move from defensive line to running back.
Yes, you read that right. The 6-foot-0 and 265-pound Hutchings has 4.7-speed and is a real threat carrying the rock. Hutchings knows that what he had to do this year was based out of necessity. He has one offer already and knows that his future days playing football in college will be with his hand in the dirt playing on the defensive line.
IN HIS WORDS: "This season didn't turn out the way we wanted it to. We had a lot of set backs with key players getting injured during the season. We aren't going to make the playoffs this year, but we accomplished a lot last year with our seniors by winning a playoff game at the 5A level which our school had never done before. Personally I had to play both sides of the ball this year and I felt like I did pretty good on just transitioning from being mostly a defensive player last year to having to play mostly offensive this year to help my team out.
"My strengths are being able to shed blocks and use my speed to beat the linemen off the ball and also my power. I think I'll play a three technique so I can get more one on one match ups. I think I'll play defensive tackle at the college level like over the guard. I play running back for us now because our starting running back got hurt earlier in the season.
"I have an offer from SMU already. Coach Buddy Wyatt is the coach that is recruiting me and he sees me playing three technique in college. Schools that are recruiting me and sending me mail are Texas, Arkansas, Houston, Boston College, North Texas, Duke, Colorado, Tulane and Yale. I visited SMU when they played Houston and I plan to go to there homecoming this week against Memphis.
"This offseason I'm going to focus more on my technique and focus on the small things to help improve my game. I'm not completely for sure yet where I will visit. I'm probably going to visit the schools the show me the most interest. For camps I'm going to go to the Nike "The Opening". They contacted my over twitter wanting my film and other information."
RIVALS' REACTION: Hutchings was a true team mate this year. I went to watch Hutchings and others this weekend and was surprised to see him lining up at running back as opposed to playing defense. His sophomore film, and his mid-season highlights for his junior year, show a player that has a lot of strength and is a real athlete that can play on the defensive line.
As a running back Hutchings really had a platform to show how athletic he was. Against Wylie East Hutchings got the ball and had one long run for about 50+ yards being pulled down in the redzone just before the goal line. Hutchings also demonstrated that he could pick up a lot of yards after contact. Don't get used to Hutchings playing offense. His future is definitely on the defensive line and pay close attention to the national camps this spring. Hutchings is sure to make his presence felt on the national stage.