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Alumni Spotlight Jaelon Darden: Former Eisenhower Eagle Now Making Mark with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Darden left Denton as the Mean Green's all-time leader in career receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38). In May, Darden was taken with the 129th overall pick by the Buccaneers in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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VYPE: From Eisenhower High School to now being in the NFL, what has this journey been like for you?
DARDEN: It's definitely a dream come true. I've been praying for this moment. Every day I wake up and I go out and attack my goals. So, I'm definitely grateful and blessed to be in this position.
VYPE: Take me back to draft night. What was it like getting that call from the Super Bowl Champions?
DARDEN: I cried. At the end of the day my mom always told me the power of the tongue is very powerful. I spoke to somebody two days before and they asked me who I wanted to play with, who was my favorite quarterback? I said Tom Brady. I guess God heard me and made that come true.
VYPE: You get to work with Tom Brady every day. What's that like?
DARDEN: It's a blessing. I've got a smile on my face every day just being out here. Not too many people have this opportunity, so I'm very thankful.
VYPE: What has it been like working with coach Bruce Arians?
DARDEN: He's a great guy. He talks to me every day and encourages me as much as he can. He also gets on to me when I do something wrong, which is needed as a coach-player relationship. I'm grateful for him taking a chance on me and bringing me into this organization.
VYPE: What's been the coolest training camp moment so far?
DARDEN: Tom Brady telling me I ran a nice route and me catching a touchdown from him. That's the most epic thing ever.
VYPE: Coming from 'Swoop Nation', what does Eisenhower High School mean to you?
DARDEN: It means a lot. It taught me to be a man. Being in neighborhood and the environment taught me to stay away from things and keep my head out of trouble. It paved the way for me to being disciplined. It helped me a lot to get to where I am at now.
VYPE: To current players at Eisenhower, what is your message to them?
DARDEN: Size doesn't matter, the heart does. Keep following your dreams and keep pushing. Don't let anybody tell you what you can't do. Get up and pray and give thanks to God and everything else will take care of itself.
This interview was conducted during the preseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and appears in the VYPE Aldine ISD Fall Edition.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dustin Garrison of Pearland helped lead the Oilers to state tite
VYPE Awards 2020: Cook, Evans, Garrison headline Hall of Fame Class
The winners will be honored in a one-hour virtual show on Sunday, May 31 at 6 p.m. on VYPE Houston's website and Twitter account and on the VYPE Texas Facebook page! It will be an event to get dressed up for and to tune in to as it will be an evening full of special moments!
Let us get it started! Here is the VYPE Hall of Famers for the Class of 2020.
Kassidy Cook, The Woodlands, Diving
Yes, Kassidy Cook won UIL state diving in 2012, but she had her eye on much larger podiums. The Woodlands Highlander was already on the international circuit participating in the Junior World Championships and Pan American Games. Cook went on to dive at Stanford, where she graduated in 2018. She missed the Olympics in 2012 by .42 points but participated in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Cook was training for the 2020 Olympics before the pandemic.
Mike Evans, Galveston Ball, Basketball/Football
Mike Evans was a basketball stud. He happened to play football at Galveston Ball his senior year and the rest is history. While he averaged 18 points per game for the Tor basketball team and ran track, Evans future was football. He starred for Texas A&M and earned All-SEC and All-American first-team honors. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucs with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 draft and is three-time All-Pro.
Dustin Garrison, Pearland, Running Back
The lineage at Pearland at the running back position is historic. Fozzy Whitaker got it started followed by Casey Carrier. Then came Dustin Garrison, who would lead the Oilers to their first and only football state title in 2010. He rushed for nearly 2,500 yards and 44 TDs that year, winning the TD Club Offensive Player of the Year Award. He then went on to West Virginia where he had a solid career at RB.
Paige McDuffee, The Woodlands, Softball
Paige McDuffee was one of the most dominant forces in Houston high school softball history. McDuffie led The Woodlands Highlanders to the 2011 state title and were crowned National Champions. She was the Gatorade National Player of the Year, going 37-1. She was ESPN Rise Ms. Softball, MaxPreps National Player of the Year and the Class 5A MVP. She went on to play at UCLA for legendary coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, before coaching at Dartmouth and Texas State.
Daniel Mengden, Westside, Baseball
Daniel Mengden is more than his famous moustache. The Westside Wolves pitcher was a three-time District 20-5A MVP for his exploits. The HISD product was an Aflac All-American who signed to play college ball at Texas A&M. While with the Aggies, he earned All-SEC utility player honors and was named to the All-SEC defensive team. Mengden was named to the USA Baseball National Collegiate Team in 2013. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball Draft and made his debut in 2016 for the Oakland As. He and has over 35 decisions so far.
Wayne Taylor, Memorial, Football/Baseball
Wayne Taylor was Mr. Houston in 2010-11. He led the Memorial Mustangs on a deep playoff run in football as the QB racked up 3,400 yards and 31 TDs. He was the District MVP and all-state selection. Taylor then went on to punish the baseball and was the 2011 Texas Baseball Player of the Year and a Collegiate Baseball All-American as a catcher. Taylor went to Stanford where he was a clutch performer in the postseason.
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