"I Know I'm One of the Best": A Q&A with Jayden Marquis

<p style="text-align: left;">I've had the opportunity to scout Jayden in-person on multiple occasions over the past few months. He possesses all the characteristics you would want your DB to have at the next level. He has great size, can cover receivers with the best of them, and most importantly he believes that he is one of the best DBs in the state.</p> I caught up with the senior out of Antioch to learn about him more as a player, and more specifically, to find out why he believes he's one of the best DBs in the state of Illinois. <h6></h6> <h6><em> Describe [player_tooltip player_id="35745" first="Jayden" last="Marquis"] the football player?</em></h6> I’m an aggressive leader. Once I’m on that football field the only thought going through my head is what can I do to put myself in position to make the play. It’s all about helping my team win and leaving everything on the field.   <h6><em>What are some of your hobbies outside of football?</em></h6> I like to play video games; I’m a big Madden guy and I also like to play Call of Duty. I’m also a very social person so I love to hang out with my friends.   <h6><em>Antioch had a pretty successful season last year; talk about last season and what you took from it?</em></h6> Last season was a great experience, but ultimately, it was a little disappointing. We had a great team with some phenomenal players, but injuries really corrupted our team. We had to overcome so many obstacles that wouldn’t have usually been there. I can say we made the best out of it. We finished the season 8-3 with a playoff birth, but the ultimate goal was to win state and that didn’t happen so we’re definitely locked in this year.   <h6><em>You got one of the top receivers in the nation on your team in [player_tooltip player_id="20253" first="Dino" last="Kaliakmanis"]; what’s it like matching up 1-on-1 with him in practice?</em></h6> I can hold my own and I feel like I can guard anyone, but don’t get me wrong, it’s really tough. Dino is an amazing player. Having the chance to work against him in practice gives me even more confidence in my abilities because playing against great players will only push you to become a better player.   <h6><em>I know you guys were excited to get the season going and build off last year’s team momentum, but what was your reaction when you found out the season was being delayed?</em></h6> I instantly looked at it from the perspective of ‘what are the pros and cons of this situation.’ Here in Illinois we really didn’t get that much time to practice, so while I’m confident we could have still went out and had an impact if the season began in August, having this extra time to get bigger, faster, and stronger as a team is only going to make us more dangerous come February.   <h6><em>What adjustments physically and mentally are you making to ensure you’re ready when the season starts?</em></h6> I’m doing a ton of lifting and also a lot of speed training. I’m also working on my hips and flexibility so I can move freely and be able to turn and run with receivers. I’m also just studying the game a lot more, making sure I develop my football mind is just as important as developing my body.   <h6><em>What are your expectations for the season?</em></h6> I expect to win it all this season. We’re pushing ourselves to the limit and I really believe we got a good chance to win a state title. Everybody doubts us, and I can’t wait to show the world what Antioch is all about.   <h6><em>From watching you play, I believe you can play both defensive back positions at a high level, but which position are you most comfortable playing?</em></h6> Right now, it’s cornerback. I’m a very hands-on corner and I love to come up and be physical at the line, but I think I’m going to end up playing safety at the next level. I’m very flexible and I’m able to cover a lot of space on the field and with my size and I have no problem coming up in run support. I’m comfortable at both positions, so being comfortable is not an issue; it’s more about how effective I can be at either position.   <h6><em>In your own words, what does it mean to be a dominant defensive back?</em></h6> You have to be able to play both man and zone to be considered a dominant DB. You have to be able to come up and support the run as well as covering the field. I also believe in playing very physical, but not overly physical to the point you’re getting flags.   <h6><em>Do you feel you’re one of the best DBs in the state?</em></h6> I know I’m one of the best DBs because of how much work I put in my craft. My mentality also separates me from others. I have that mentality where I want to win, I want to get better, so I’m always setting the bar high. It’s always been go big or go home.   <h6><em>Name three people in the state you would love to have a chance to go 1-on1 with?</em></h6> The three people I would love to match up with are [player_tooltip player_id="20868" first="Kaleb" last="Brown"], [player_tooltip player_id="20878" first="Tyler" last="Morris"], and [player_tooltip player_id="20253" first="Dino" last="Kaliakmanis"]. I know I could hold my own with them in 1-on-1’s.   <h6><em>How many offers do you have right now, and what would be your dream offer?</em></h6> I have seven offers right now and I’m currently speaking with multiple other schools, so hopefully I’ll be picking up more soon. My dream offer would be Minnesota. I went on a visit there and really liked the school, and it’s not far from home. Even though they’ve already picked up their guys, I know I could come in and shock everyone and be a valuable asset to the program if I had the opportunity.