Four-Star Safety Jaylen Heyward decommits from Georgia

Four-star safety Jaylen Heyward of Rockledge (FL) High announced his decommitment from Georgia Tuesday evening.

The 6-foot, 185 pounder had been committed to the Bulldogs since January.

The Sunshine defensive back currently holds a total of 41 offers. 

Last fall, he narrowed his list to these 6 schools: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, and Ohio State. However, Heyward told On3 he will be restarting his recruitment.

Jaylen Heyward Scouting Summary

“Athletic defensive back with the skills to line up at multiple spots in the secondary. Measured at around 5-foot-10.5, 180 pounds prior to his junior season. A strong athlete who also excels as a sprinter in track and field. Was a state finalist in the 100 meters as a junior with a 10.79 second mark. Primarily lined up as a cornerback as a junior, despite being considered as a safety prospect. Could feasibly play multiple spots in the secondary at the college level.”

“Has the speed to run with receivers on vertical routes. Carries wideouts down the field and stays in phase. His man cover skills stack up on the higher end among 2024 safety prospects. Had solid ball production as a junior with 8 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. A physical and willing tackler. Not shy in lowering his shoulder. Also plays on offense, showing his burst as a running back. Pulls away from defenses once he’s at the second level. Does not have a big frame. Looks to be more of a straight line athlete at this time and can continue improving his fluidity and change of direction.”

Heyward ranks as the No. 96 player according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 5 safety and the No. 13 player in the state of Florida.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $141K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Personal Life (via On3)

“Jaylen Heyward is a two-way player that became such an important part of the Rockledge (Florida) High School squad that his coach, Wayne Younger, called him the “team’s most valuable player.” Early on it was clear that Heyward was going to make a big impact for the Raiders. As a sophomore, he racked up 35 tackles, six pass breakups and three interceptions. He then backed that up with a junior season that saw him record 44 tackles, eight pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and 677 yards of total offense. As a sophomore, Heyward was a state qualifier in the 100-meter dash with times as fast as 10.68 seconds, and he was part of a 4×100 squad that finished second in the 3A state track meet.”