Senior quarterback Jaylen Patterson will be taking his talents to the New Mexico State Aggies in the fall.
“New Mexico State reminds me a lot of the [Inland Empire], so it felt a little more at home,” Patterson said. “I feel like New Mexico State is where I would be if I wasn’t playing football.”
Patterson, a native of South Central, attended three different high schools during his career. One school was San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno.
“It was definitely a culture shock in Fresno, it’s not what I was used to,” Patterson said. “But generally what football does is bring everybody together and you’re going to develop that relationship regardless.”
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Every time he walks on the field, Patterson has the mindset that he is the best player there. The work he puts in gives him that confidence. This past season at San Jacinto High School, Patterson amassed 1,545 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes along with 650 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
Patterson also competed in track and field, running the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay. His personal best in the 100m is 10.8 seconds; for the 200m, it is 23.8 seconds.
“It definitely helped me learn how to run and manage my lung capacity,” Patterson said.
A sport that Patterson pursues as a hobby is golf. The stance needed in golf compliments a quarterback stance, according to Patterson.
“It’s pretty addicting,” he said. “I try to do that on my free time … it’s almost like a getaway. It puts me in a good head space.”
For Patterson, being a student athlete means being a leader on the field and off. The habits of a student athlete can be influential to their teammates and peers.
“The people who you don’t think are looking up to you are,” Patterson said. “You got to carry yourself in a way that is righteous.”
At a young age, Patterson enjoyed playing soccer. It was a sport offered by the Jream Foundation, a youth development program run by his father, Antonio. When he starts attending New Mexico State, Patterson aspires to create his own youth football camp.
“Football is supposed to be fun at the end of the day,” Patterson said. “Just to bring the youth together and bond.”
