My name is Zoey Taylor, I am 16 years-old. I am a junior at Ridge point High School. In my spare time, I like to cook, help my mom around the house, chill with my little brother, and watch sports. When I grow up, I want to be a Sports Analyst or a Sports Agent. I am looking forward to covering all sports at Ridge Point to shine a light on our amazing programs. When it comes to being a VypeU Ambassador, I am most excited to learn and understand all that goes on behind the scenes of sports, learning how articles can help players and key attributes in producing my best body of work. With this experience I'm hoping to learn how to be more confident when doing in-person interviews, how to utilize the skills I have learned about writing, understanding how media could help and harm players in the sporting industry and I also want to be able to improve my skill set when it comes to writing to better articulate what I'm seeing as a media source for the masses.
VYPE U: Q&A with Manvel's Jordon Vaughn
Jordon Vaughn, is the true definition of a student-athlete.
Playing running back alongside Michigan State-commit Donovan Eaglin, at Manvel High School, Jordon has managed to make a name for himself during the season. He went into his junior season with zero offers and finished the year with 556 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns on 96 carries. Not only that,but on the defensive side of the ball he earned 17 solo tackles.
Jordon isn't only a star on the field, but he also shines in the classroom. He is a part of the National Honor Society, has an SAT score of 1250 and an ACT score of a 26. With the hard work and effort he puts into his school work, he has earned scholarships from the six out of the eight Ivy League schools.
Recently I caught up with Jordon to ask him a few questions...
VYPE : Since your junior season ended you picked up over 15 offers, from some great schools but what stands out the most is the Ivy league schools you've received. How is it trying to balance out football and your school work?
VAUGHN: "Well, right now, balancing them both has been pretty moderate. I'm able to go workout in the morning and knock out school work later in the day. Not being in school has provided whole days of freedom, basically, and it has helped me become more organized with my work and help me prioritize my time throughout each day."
VYPE: Overall what do you think separates you from other running backs?
VAUGHN: "What I think separates me from other running backs is my combination of size, speed and strength. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum at 6-2, 200-plus pounds when it comes to running backs but I have that home run speed to evade linebackers and safeties and able to block efficiently, too. Another aspect of my game is that I am well conditioned. I'm able to last the whole game and can go every play. I am an every-down, all purpose back as I can catch out of the backfield as well. I can do it all."
VYPE: After the loss to Fort Bend Marshall in the fourth round last season, going into your senior season what goals do you have for not only for yourself but for your team as well?
VAUGHN: "The Marshall loss definitely left me with a heavy heart. Going into my last season, the ultimate goal is going back to Cowboy Stadium in December and winning a championship for my school. Some personal goals of mine are to run lower in traffic and be more elusive out in the open field to extend plays and keep the offense going and just being more aggressive in my game as a whole. Some goals for my team is to not only win a ring but to bond as a team. We need to employ that HokaHey mentality and become more disciplined as a team."
VYPE: How are you keeping yourself in shape during these uncertain times?
VAUGHN: "I workout in my garage in the mornings. We have a bench set with plates and dumbbells to use so I will continue to get stronger. To stay in shape I go for long runs outside in my neighborhood. On top of that, I do plyometric training like chair jumps and ladder drills/hill workouts."
VYPE: If you weren't playing football what do you think you would be doing?
VAUGHN: "If I wasn't playing football, I'd run track full-time. It's my second-favorite sport behind football and I used to run AAU summer track in elementary and junior high school."
Going into the 2020, Jordon will be entering his senior season. He'll be a player you'll enjoy watching this upcoming season alongside the rest of the Manvel Mavericks. He is hoping to help the Mavericks earn great success this season as he takes his last ride in the Manvel uniform.
VYPE U: Catching up with Kyron Drones
A perfect season, 16-0 as a starter, unanimous district MVP, state championship offensive MVP, 3,400+ passing yards with 46 touchdowns, and last but not least 820+ rushing yards with 18 touchdowns. Oh and to add on to that a state champion.
Kyron Drones is the man to claim all these titles. He played a big role in a lot of the Sharks' success in the 2019 season.
The versatile Shark can launch the ball to hit any of his receivers at the perfect time, but is also quick on his feet. His ability to pull his team out of some of the holes they were in during the season was amazing to watch. He has racked up 21 offers since his junior season ended, and you can expect that list to grow.
I decided to catch up with Drones and ask him a few questions to get to know the Shark QB.
VYPE: You went into the state game with 0 offers and some would have considered you an underrated player, how did you keep yourself motivated knowing you weren't getting the looks you deserved?
KYRON DRONES: I knew what I was capable of doing and I just had to prove everybody wrong that doubted me and just keep winning. Coaches like winners so eventually they were going to notice.
VYPE: What do you think separates yourself from other high school quarterbacks?
KYRON DRONES: The fact that I'm going to always find a way to win no matter what. I can make all the throws coaches are looking for and I'm able to make plays with my feet.
VYPE: You have earned some offers from powerhouse programs, is there a certain feeling you get as you receive these opportunities to play at the next level?
KYRON DRONES: Ehh I feel big now just a little bit because I knew what I was capable of getting and doing but now it's pretty normal.
VYPE: During these uncertain times, what are you doing to stay in shape and prepare for your senior season?
KYRON DRONES: I either lift in my garage or I go meet up with my trainers everyday.
VYPE: Outside of football, what are some of the things you do to keep yourself entertained during this time? Do you have any good tv shows, movies, etc you would recommend?
KYRON DRONES: I've been either playing the game or watching "Black Lightning," "Boomerang" and other shows like that.
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Going into the 2020 season, Drones will be entering his senior year. With plenty of offers already under his belt, Drones will continue to be someone you'll enjoy watching under the Friday night lights. Like Drones said, "I'm going to always find a way to win no matter what." Watching him prove this statement next season will be something you won't want to miss.