The Houston Impact on BC
Playing on a defense that features 5-star edge LaDamion Guyton, who has committed to Texas Tech and tackle Kam Cody, a senior headed to Clemson, along with Micah Williams, a senior defensive back committed to App State, Jayden has become a key contributor and playmaker in his own right.
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Entering the playoffs, he led the Cadets with 69 tackles (10 for losses), with a sack, three pass deflections and three fumble recoveries.
He's soaking up every moment of a season that he and his teammates hope will end in a state championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
"When I wasn't starting in my first three years, I tried to learn from the players in front of me and just try to get better every day," the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder said. "I looked up to the older guys like Wilkes Albert and Bryce Baker (now playing at Georgia Southern) and learned everything I could from them, along with another one of my coaches, DeAngelo Brown (played at Louisville and now trains local athletes).
"When I wasn't starting in my first three years, I tried to learn from the players in front of me and just try to get better every day," the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder said. "I looked up to the older guys like Wilkes Albert and Bryce Baker (now playing at Georgia Southern) and learned everything I could from them, along with another one of my coaches, DeAngelo Brown (played at Louisville and now trains local athletes).
"And of course I learned so much about football from my dad, who also told me to keep my head straight, to keep working — and that one day it would all pay off. I got my chance to start this year and to me, that meant that I had to step up and help the team."
In Benedictine's first-round playoff game against visiting East Forsyth, the Cadets were lacking energy in the first half and were tied with the Broncos at intermission. On East Forsyth's first possession of the second half, Jayden laid a big-third down hit on Bronco quarterback Chase Rhoads as the Cadet sideline erupted in excitement. The play ignited a second-half rout as BC scored 35 unanswered points to win 42-7.
Benedictine coach Danny Britt had delivered a fiery halftime speech and wasn't surprised that Houston took his words to heart.
"I'm super proud of Jayden," Britt said after the win. "He has paid his dues playing on the JV team and on special teams, and even last year he ran a lot of scout team in practice because he was so good he made our starters better. So he served his time, and this year he has been playing really well. He was a first-team All-Region pick at linebacker.
"Some might think he had it easier at BC with his dad as the DC, but that wasn't the way it was — in fact it was 1,000% the opposite. Sometimes I have to tell Coach Houston to praise him once in a while, cause he's so tough on him," Britt said. "And Jayden is one of the players I almost never yell at — because he gets it so hard from his daddy. But I know Coach Houston loves the experience of coaching Jayden, and Jayden has earned everything he's got."
When it's not in the heat of the battle on a Friday night, Galen has an easier time singing the praises of his son.
"Jayden is a physical athlete and he can run — that's a big part of his game," Galen Houston said. "He has that closing speed and can make plays in space and cover the pass as well as making the hits at the line of scrimmage. He's very instinctive and he plays much bigger that he is."
Galen said his prep days at Benedictine helped shape him into the coach and man he is today, and he's thankful that his son gets to have that same experience.
"I learned how important academics were and about discipline, accountability and being a good teammate," Galen Houston said. "And how hard work builds the foundation for leadership, and it means a lot to me that Jayden is learning the same things here at Benedictine."
Galen said he had heard about father-son coaching situations that took the wrong track and ended up having a negative impact on family relations, and he has tried to avoid that.
"I think it's a combination of me being tougher on him, and sometimes easier, but I try to treat him just like all of the kids," Galen said. "My focus is on coaching my guys as a collective and I don't want to blur the lines between being a coach and a father. But sometimes when he makes a big play, I get excited as a dad and want to celebrate that moment with my son.
"I try to make it a point to tell him that I'm proud of him and that I love him when he makes a play, or when he makes a mistake too," he said.
"It's an honor to play for my dad and to play at Benedictine," Jayden said. "My dad is always hard on me as a coach, but I know that it's out of love. He's harder on me because he knows what I'm capable of and he wants me to be better than he was — and we both want to win really bad. I call him Coach at practices and games because I don't want anyone to think there is any favoritism, and he does expect the best from everyone on the team."
Jayden said expectations are high for the Cadets among the players as well as the coaches as the team chases its fifth state title since Britt took over in 2011.
"Our defense is fast, physical and relentless and we're hard on each other," he said. "Everyone has to do their own job. We've got a lot of dogs on our team and we're hungry to win a championship. I was a freshman on our team that won the state championship (in 2022), but I didn't play. Now I want to get another championship ring with a team that I worked to earn it with myself."
