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REVENGE TOUR: KF's Bragg has drive to propel Eagles
KLEIN FOREST QB JAYLEN BRAGG HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF, DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE’S ENTERING HIS SECOND SEASON WITH THE PROGRAM.
The incoming senior has adapted nicely to Forest, after transferring in following his sophomore year. But that doesn’t mean it was easy for the Golden Eagles signal-caller.
“Transferring schools is already difficult as it is,” said Bragg. “But, transferring as a quarterback is even harder in my opinion, because you have to undertake that leadership role in a new place. So, I came in and I just wanted to establish myself as a leader on the team, and my teammates accepted me.
“I feel like the whole transferring process has helped me to persevere – look through the bad times and push on.”
If his junior season was any indication, Bragg has shown that he can sling it just as well as anybody. Additionally, his explosive acceleration is enough to give any defensive coordinator a headache. But, according to the dual- threat Bragg, those aren’t even his greatest assets.
“As a player, I feel like my pocket movement and awareness helps me to stand out,” he said. “I can thank my trainer, J.P. Tillman, for that. I’ve learned how to evade the blitz and progress as a runner and passer.”
However, what’s most interesting about Bragg are the lengths he has gone to in order to improve throughout his football journey.
“My brother started playing football when I was about six, and I wanted to follow his footsteps,” Bragg said. “But, I ended up getting sick. I was diagnosed with HSP (an autoimmune disease), and I was out of the game for about four years.
“That’s really what kept me going whenever I came back. I really missed the sport and it was that drive to get back on the field that fueled me.”
That drive of his might very well lead to his aspirations becoming a reality, someday.
“Obviously, I want to go to college and play football, and hopefully get a shot to play pro,” he said. “If that doesn’t work out, I’m thinking about going into the radiology field – doing something in the medical field because of my history with it. My main goal right now is getting that shot to go to the next level.”
Before he can look to the future, Bragg will steer the ship for the Klein Forest offense one last time. After finishing 5-5 and narrowly missing the playoffs in 2022, it goes without saying that he’ll be dead-set on changing the narrative.
“This year I feel like it’s KF versus everybody,” he said. “I don’t think 5-and-5 really showed how good we were last year. If you look at the box score of all those games, we were up in the fourth quarter. We just need to finish games. It’s kind of like a ‘revenge tour’ this season.”
JACK OF ALL TRADES: KF's Burkhalter more than just football
TRENTON “TJ” BURKHALTER, JR. IS AS VERSATILE AS THEY COME.
The junior DE for Klein Forest has established himself as one of the program’s top competitors on the gridiron, having earned second-team, all- district honors in 2022.
Given all the college camps he’s attended, Burkhalter may have the chance to play at the next level, holding offers from Mississippi Valley State and Midwestern State.
While he hopes to hear from more colleges in the coming months, Burkhalter’s primary focus still remains at home.
“For me, I’m really more focused on the team right now,” he said. “I want to help us make it to the playoffs. With recruiting, if I do well during the season and get some offers, I’d be excited. But the team is the top priority right now.”
It’s no secret that the Klein Forest football program will look slightly different now that coach Darrick Vaughn has
taken the reins. However, Burkhalter feels that this will give him and his teammates the opportunity to thrive in a new system.
“We’re definitely a lot more focused,” said Burkhalter. “We lost a lot of players, which kind of hurts, but I definitely think that our team is coming together. Coach Vaughn is really big on discipline and attention to detail, and he’s trying to make sure we get the little things right. I think that will benefit us in the long run.”
When football ends, Burkhalter sheds the pads and prepares to enter the wrestling ring. In fact, he’s so adept in the ring that he was the individual district champion at 215-pounds a year ago.
No wonder he’s become a force off the edge.
“I think going back and forth with football and wrestling really helps with my stamina and physicality on the defensive line,” he said. “People don’t always realize the kind of conditioning you need for wrestling – you get worn out a lot quicker. So being trained that way year-round is incredibly valuable for me.”
What’s something that many people might not know about the Klein Forest junior ?
“I’m in FFA as well. I’m really big on livestock,” Burkhalter said. “I’ve shown steers for the past two years, and I’ve been working with FFA since the sixth grade. I actually showed at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and ended up winning $6,000.
“I definitely see that in my future, which is why I intend to major in something agriculture-wise once I go to college. I grew up around horses since some of my family would participate in rodeos, so it just feels right.”
Suffice it to say, whatever path Burkhalter chooses to take, the future is bright for this Golden Eagle.