Although he didn’t expect to become a football player, Jayden Peevy now finds himself stepping into a prominent role as a defensive tackle on Texas A&M’s football team.
Peevy did not start playing football until his junior year at Bellaire High School, choosing instead to pursue basketball through most of his teenage years.
His decision to switch sports was driven by his competitive nature, and he said he was determined to prove he could be the best in any athletic endeavor.
“I knew I could be better than everybody,” Peevy said. “I’m a competitor, that’s what I do best.”
He said his family’s support of his transition from basketball to football meant a lot to him.
“They [were] right behind me, 100 percent,” Peevy said.
When he made the switch to football, Peevy said the coaches were happy to have him.
“When the coaches got me at Bellaire, they were so excited,” Peevy said. “They [saw] my frame and they knew they had something to work with.”
Despite his lack of experience, Bellaire head football coach Herb Kunz said Peevy quickly took to the sport.
“He was very coachable,” Kunz said. “He wanted to be a part of what we were doing, and we wanted him. He really grew to love the football side of things because it was new to him and he started to have success. He’s just a tremendous young man.”
Peevy originally committed to Baylor, but ultimately chose A&M, where he is now entering his senior year.
He finished 2019 with 34 total tackles including 12 solos and 22 assisted, as well as 2.5 sacks.
A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said he is pleased with the direction Peevy is heading, especially considering his late entrance into the sport.
“Right now, he’s doing an excellent job as a leader and setting a great example in practice and practicing very well,” Fisher said. “Him getting better and better is from knowledge of the game of football. They said he was a heck of a basketball player, and I could see that. He is very athletic and can run, change direction. When he jumps and moves, I can see why he was a very good basketball player, just watching his body movements.”
Fisher said football requires a much different set of techniques than basketball, and the transition between the two sports isn’t easy.
“Football is a very, very technical sport, from leverages, how to run a route, how to get open, inside, how do I fit on a block, how do I use my hands, all of those things, and it just takes time [to learn],” Fisher said. “Every year, you can see he’s just gotten better and better. [He’s] very driven to stay there and keep getting better and better. It speaks to his character and who he is as a person. He’s doing a great job leading us right now. Hopefully he’s going to have a great year.”
Peevy’s teammates expect the same for him.
“He’s going to know his assignments, he’s going to play fast, he’s going to give consistent effort. That’s a guy you want to play behind,” senior linebacker Buddy Johnson said. “He’s a great guy on the field and most importantly, off the field.”
As a veteran on the team, Peevy said he is happy with the direction he is going as a leader and will take a more vocal approach this year.
“I’m more of a lead-by-example type of guy, but now I’m starting to be more vocal throughout practices,” Peevy said. “Just getting around the guys, just talking to them, that’s something I’m doing differently now.”
After serving as a backup to the recently drafted Justin Madubuike, Peevy said he has high expectations for himself in his senior season.
“A lot of people didn’t know about me; I always wanted to be a guy to come in and show people that I am that guy,” Peevy said. “It’s going to be a great year for me. I’ll tell you that.”