Prospect Q&A: JSerra linebacker Jaden Genova

The roadmap to a college scholarship is usually pretty simple and everyone is familiar with how it goes. The super elites are noticed before they step on their high school campus and get offers as freshman. Most prospects have this path: have a promising sophomore season, dominate as a junior and compile offers, have a great senior season and sign the letter of intent. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="25155" first="Jaden" last="Genova"] was on that second track. He had 78 tackles, 9 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble as a sophomore for the Lions. He also had three receiving touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball. https://twitter.com/SouthOCsports/status/1051206736231579649?s=20 Genova was offered by Oregon and seemed like he was on track to garner many Power Five offers. After a very strong junior season when he had 84 tackles, 9 hurries and 3 forced fumbles which earned him <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2019/12/20/all-orange-county-football-second-team-third-team/">All-County honors from the Orange County Register</a>, people expected him to get more major offers. Except for some strange reason, the offers didn't come in. It was strange considering he was arguably the best defensive player on a Trinity League team, playing against the top competition in the state. Other prospects with worse numbers on less competitive teams were gaining offers. But Genova hasn't been discouraged by the recruiting process. <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-30654" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/CA-Jaden-Genova-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /> He continues to work hard in the weight room and putting in time on the field to improve his game. Genova would have benefitted from a normal and full 10 game season as a senior with more plays to add to his already impressive film. He had a chance to become JSerra's all-time leader in tackles, a goal which he still has if there is a football season this spring. He is one of the best unsigned players in the state. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/california/rankings/2021-rankings/">Prep Redzone ranked him as the No. 15 linebacker</a> in the state and the No. 133 overall player in the state. Genova spoke to Prep Redzone about his recruitment and possible senior season at JSerra <em><strong>Interview</strong></em> <strong>How would you personally evaluate your junior season?</strong> I would say my junior season was pretty good, but I feel like it definitely could have been better. <strong>You've gotten All-Trinity League honors two years in a row and All-County last season. Somehow you still feel under the radar. Does that bother you or do you like surprising people?</strong> It honestly bothers me a bit because there are some guys with offers I feel like I am better than. But I also like surprising people and showing them what I really can do. https://twitter.com/JSerra_Football/status/1195554507972730880?s=20 <strong>What schools have offered you? What schools are talking to you but have yet to offer?</strong> Army, Oregon, Idaho State, and Lake Erie have offered me. I am also talking to UC Davis and Cal Poly SLO. <strong>Which college coaches have you built connections with?</strong> I've really connected with <a href="https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/sean-saturnio/1049"><strong>Coach (Sean) Saturnio</strong></a> from Army and also I really like <a href="https://ucdavisaggies.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/isaiah-jackson/1837"><strong>Coach (Isaiah) Jackson</strong></a> from UC Davis. <strong>Having a coach like who has played in college ball and in the NFL has to be an asset in your recruiting and career. How much has Coach Harlow helped you?</strong> Coach Harlow has helped me a lot throughout my career. He just has so much football knowledge, you know that you are always going to learn something when he is around. <div><strong>How have you been preparing for the season during this strange COVID time?</strong></div> <div></div> <div>I've been preparing for the season by lifting with my trainer <a href="http://www.scotprohaska.com/"><strong>Scot Prohaska.</strong></a> He's helped me a lot through this whole deal. Although now, we are lifting and running as a team at JSerra.</div> <div></div> <div><strong>What are your goals for the season as an individual and for JSerra as a team?</strong></div> <div></div> <div>My goals this season for myself would be to show people that I really can play and to become the career tackle leader at JSerra. As a team, I hope that we can shock some people and win football games.</div> <div></div> <div><strong>How competitive is the Trinity League and do you think it's the best league in the country?</strong></div> <div></div> <div>The Trinity League is extremely competitive, that's probably the best part about it. I definitely do think that it is the best league in the country, there's no better place for football than Southern California.</div>