Jayleen Record is a three-star wide receiver out of James Madison High School in Dallas, TX. He’s going into his senior season with the Knights listed as 5’9 and 165 pounds. Jayleen also runs track for Madison and plays basketball during his free time. He’s quick-minded, shifty as it pertains to speed and acceleration, and competes every play. During his junior season, he was named the District 6-3A-I Offensive MVP. Jayleen is someone who truly cares about all aspects of football. His love for football is obvious, but he has many talents outside of the football field. He’s a 4.0 student with a passion for the arts and serves as a motivating force within his team. Jayleen committed to play football at Southern Methodist University next fall on Mother’s Day to pay homage to his mother. He mentioned in another interview that despite this season being so unpredictable, his goal is to help his teammates work towards a brighter future by recognizing that for some of his peers, sports may be their only way into college. An absolute selfless player that plans keep his promise of playing at the next level to his late father, Michael Record, who passed away in March of 2019.
When did you start playing football? What made you want to play this sport?
I started playing football at 3 or 4 years old. There’s a field around the corner from my house and my mom used to see people playing football and stuff. My dad went to college to play football and he made the Seahawks roster, but he didn’t end up going to the NFL. He ended up working on airplanes and stuff and he kind of pushed me toward it. I ended up liking it and having a passion for it.
Do you play any other sports? Talk about your positions and how they help you on the football field.
I run track. I can hoop but I just don’t because I’m focusing on football a lot and track. I’m really a dual-sport athlete, so track and football. Track is really after football; I start offseason track as soon as football ends. Track keeps your wind up and keeps you moving and out of trouble as well as football does. By the time you get out of track, football season will be starting again, and you’ll be at top speed and your best wind. The only thing you’ll have to do is gain a little of your weight back for football, but that’s easy.
How do you think your coaches and teammates would describe you as a player?
I think my coaches and teammates would describe me as humble, as a leader. I’m not really a verbal leader. I show how to be a leader, I show my team what to do and how to do it. I’m not really that vocal, but I can be. I’m vocal when I need to be. I really just show and tell. I don’t get mad a lot and when I see my teammates down, I help them. I make sure they’re not feeling bad about themselves or felling like quitting the team or anything like that. For my coach, my coaches would describe me as really a student athlete. I always hear my coaches talking about how I get good grades and how I’m an “A” student and I take it to the field. I’m an “A” student on the field as well.
What is your favorite thing about playing football in Texas? In Dallas?
I think playing football in Texas is really, really, really different than any other state. When I when to Las Vegas and I was in a tournament, their best players were average to us. I’m not trying to be cocky or arrogant, but they were like average to us. Texas is a football state if you ask me. We really take football more seriously than any other state. You know it’s just a bigger environment, it already gives you the college experience. Some Texas high school games will have more fans than college games, so I just feel like it gives you a better environment than any other state.
Do you have a favorite NFL or college athlete?
My favorite all-time athlete is Barry Sanders, a running back who played for the Lions. You know, he dominated the game in his time, and he did it without a lot of help.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’m already going to have an associate degree in Business when I graduate high school, so I see myself in two years with a bachelor’s degree in Business. For those next three years, I see myself as a top athlete in college, projected to be at least a second or third round. The next year, if I’m not a second or third round, I see myself projected as first round.
What motivates you to do what you do (why do you play)?
As a kid, I had a passion for the game. For me to just stop playing and not want to play anymore, I just don’t see myself doing that. I don’t want to say my dad tried to live his dreams through me because he didn’t, but I want to finish his dream. He made the roster, but he just didn’t do it, so I want to continue to go there and keep a promise to my dad that I can play football on the highest level for many years to come.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Before games, I watch Tavon Austin and Barry Sanders highlights. I listen to music. The first song I listen to all the time is by a rapper named Young Pappy, Savages. It’s an aggressive type of song, but it just makes me get in the mood. Right before the game starts, I pray to God, not just for me. I pray for everybody on the field because I don’t like to see people get injured. I like to see people do good; I like to compete. I like going against teams that compete, who make you go hard. I pray for everybody on the field including the fans, coaches, and athletes.
Do you have any hobbies outside of sports?
I can draw, sing, and write. I’m actually a great writer, which leads to me writing songs and raps.
Have you thought about what you would like to study in college?
Since I’m already graduating with Business, I’m going to double major in Business and Aerospace Engineering to work on airplanes and learn about airplanes.
Biggest accomplishments so far?
Keeping my promise to my dad is my biggest accomplishment, saying that I would go to SMU. I told him before he passed away that I was going to go to SMU. The year before that, I was just a sophomore, my first year on varsity, I had 10 touchdowns. The next year, I had 41 touchdowns and I got an offer from SMU and other colleges, and I kept my promise.
Are there any individual stats you are trying to chase?
We have a short season, so really, I’m just trying to see if I can get 1,000 yards rushing or passing in a short season and at the same time, be a leader. That’s really it.
What is something you would like to improve on?
I used to have bad behavior and my attitude would be really, really terrible. When my dad died, I kind of cut it down, but I still want to work on my attitude. There are some things that still kind of make me mad, but I’m controlling it. I’m still working on my attitude and trying to get better and better.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve discovered in playing your position and how specifically have you attacked that challenge?
My biggest challenge? Everybody can run routes, everybody can be fast, but how can I be different? I know I have to know the game. That’s really my biggest challenge as a receiver.
What are some reasons you like being part of a team sport?
Playing football teaches you how to be a man, it teaches you how to be a better person and how to work with different people.
You mentioned before that you wanted to keep you promise to your dad and go to SMU. Besides that, what made SMU different than the rest of the schools that offered you?
I mean of course it’s a home, and I’ve visited other colleges, but they made me feel like I was at home. When they first talked to me, their first thing was, “we’re going to get you the ball” and “we’re going to take care of you and take care of your family.” I feel like that made them different.
What is the best part about competing?
It’s just the hype of it. To see everybody smiling and happy. When you come out with the win, it’s just the feeling of it. Everybody likes to win, so it’s just the feeling behind it, the energy. It’s the best feeling to me.
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