RECRUITING: Orem High Superstar Chooses Weber State Over PAC-12 And FBS

(Photos taken by Tim Dye)

NAME: Jayden Ah You

HIGH SCHOOL: Orem High School

POSITION: Middle Linebacker/Edge Rusher

TOP SCHOOLS: Committed to Weber State (Other interested schools: Air Force, Arizona, Arizona State, Army, BYU, Colorado State, Hawaii, Navy, Stanford, UCLA, Utah )

Weber State football landed another top 25 prospect in the state of Utah – and one of their highest rated recruits ever – this past week.

The Wildcats, who had stupendous success in the state of Utah during the early signing period, snagged Jayden Ah You, a 6’2”, 235-pound linebacker out of Orem High School. Ah You, a three-star prospect whose family is originally from Laie, Hawaii, on the north shore of Oahu, is a versatile linebacker who starred in OHS’ 4-2-5 defense and found ways to make plays all over the field.

“In the last few plays of the game, I’m always able to seal the deal in big time games,” Ah You told Weber State Weekly. “When other kids are tired, I have the mental capacity to push into the extra gear and keep going.”

Ah You, whose high school teams amassed a 42-10 record and captured four state championships during his time as a starter for the Tigers, certainly backs that statement up with his play. The utility linebacker led all of Utah 5A high school football with 21.5 sacks this past season, and was named to the all-state team.

When you look at the resume and combine it with his tape, it’s easy to see why Ah You is so confident in his play.

He said that Wildcat fans can expect “someone that’s going to come every day and be ready to work.” He continued, “I’m never scared to compete against anyone. I’ll go up against Alabama. I don’t care who you are or where you’re from. I’m confident in my work and what I’ve done to this point. I can go up against the best and beat the best.”

The skill and the swagger attracted lots of attention from all across the nation.

Ah You drew scholarship offers from Air Force, Arizona State, Army, Colorado State, Hawaii, Navy, and was getting some serious attention from other schools like BYU, Stanford, UCLA and Utah.

With a spotlight like that, how did he end up at Weber State?

Many people might look at the coaching staff and conclude that he only went to Weber State to link up with his uncle, Linebackers coach, Matty Ah You. Coach Ah You, however, wasn’t even the first person to reach out to the stud linebacker about playing in Ogden.

That was Jared Ursua, in whom Jayden has an immense amount of confidence.

“(Ursua) was the one that gave me the offer and that was talking to me. Then my uncle Matty started talking to me. I have a lot of trust in those two.”

He also had other contacts with Weber State ties that helped to pitch him on joining the Wildcats. Over the summer, he was working out with former Wildcat superstars Jonah Williams and Adam Rodriguez, both of whom only had good things to say about their time in Ogden.

“I knew some of the players last year Adam Rodriguez and Jonah Williams. … They were hyping it up so much and then I talked to uncle Matty and the feeling I got was that it’s a family.”

Although there were other factors that made an impact on Ah You’s decision, proximity to his family played a big part, as well. “Everything that Weber State has to offer fit me best. I have a lot of trust in those people and they’re good folks. That’s what got me the most. And, of course, it’s close to home. I can come see my mom every weekend. She was worried about that.”

When he’s off the field, he loves playing basketball with his friends, going bowling (his high game is 215), axe throwing and eating. In particular, he likes “anything with meat, and mac and cheese.”

Ah You was also told by Weber State coaches that he’ll likely be playing inside linebacker and used as a downhill, blitzing type/run stopping linebacker. He plans on attending Weber State in the fall of 2021, considering majoring in something in a medical field, and wants to be eligible to play football in the fall. After adding Ah You, Brayden Perry and Jack Kelly, the linebacker position – one of the most important in Jay Hill’s defense – looks to be set for the next few years.