By Robert Wilson
Nelson Adams was one of the best defensive linemen in Brandon High School history so when he speaks highly of a current Bulldog playing that position, believe him.
Adams, now Brandon’s defensive line coach, said Jaeden Calender’s night was special Friday against Meridian and Daniel Hill, one of the best athletes in the country.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Calender had a career-high 24 tackles, 6 for loss, and 1 sack to help Brandon to a 41-35 victory over Meridian in a key MHSAA Class 7A, Region 3 game at Brandon’s Louis Strickland Field.
For his outstanding performance, Calender has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
Adams was one of the best players in Mississippi and one of the top 50 at his position in the country at Brandon a dozen years ago before going to play and start at Mississippi State. He has been impressed with Calender’s ability and performance this season, especially Friday.
“Jaeden’s performance Friday was nothing short of special,” Adams said. “I thought he played physical, and with great effort from start to finish. Jaeden has been a special player and leader for us this season. Whether it’s playing linebacker or defensive end, he is a selfless player that just loves the game of football and wants to help the team win any way he can. Jaeden has been the heartbeat of our defense and we go as he goes.”
Calender has made 157 tackles – the most in Mississippi and tied for 19th most in the country, according to MaxPreps – with 21 for loss and 9 sacks in nine games this season.
Brandon head coach Sam Williams, who played receiver at Northwest Rankin and played with Adams at MSU, loves many things about Calender.
“Jaeden has been one of the most dominant players in the state this year,” Williams said. “His energy and intensity on a day-to-day basis allow him to perform the way he does on Friday nights. Jaeden took the challenge of playing arguably the best player in the state (Meridian’s Hill) personally and did all he could to shut him down Friday night. I am super proud of the player he has become and all that he has done to make his teammates successful this year.”
The 6-1, 231-pound Hill – who has offers from nine SEC schools as well as Top 10 teams like No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 Florida State, No. 6 Oregon, and No. 7 Texas – came into Friday averaging 203.7 rushing yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry this season. Hill had 87 yards on 28 carries – an average of 3.1 yards per carry – and two touchdowns against Brandon. Hill also threw a TD pass and caught a TD pass. Calender was responsible for many of those tackles on Hill.
“Jaeden is a very coachable kid with a fantastic motor,” Brandon defensive coordinator Greg Robinson said. “He has fully bought into what we preach that if he doesn’t make the tackle, they score, and we lose. It’s fun to coach guys with that type of relentless effort.”
Calender was named to the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team as a defensive lineman last season and was a member of the Metro Jackson Elite 11 Team this season.
He had 155 tackles (11.1 per game), 23 tackles for loss, 8 sacks for 67 yards, 22 hurries, 3 caused fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and scored 1 safety and helped Brandon to a 12-2 record and its second consecutive Class 6A state runner-up finish last season as a junior.
Calender had 31 tackles, 2.2 tackles for loss, 1 pass deflection and 1 fumble recovery and helped Brandon to a 11-3 record and a Class 6A state runner-up finish two years ago as a sophomore.
Calender has a Division I offer from Central Arkansas as well as multiple Mississippi community colleges.
Brandon (7-2 overall and 4-0 in region play) plays at Rankin County rival Northwest Rankin (5-4 overall and 1-3 in region play) Thursday in a region game in Flowood.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a football player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
2023 POW winners:
Week One: John White, MRA
Week Two: Jacob Clearman, Tri-County Academy
Week Three: Ryan McCall, Madison Central
Week Four: Brayden Bullock, Central Hinds Academy
Week Five: Nate Blount, Brandon
Week Six: John White, MRA
Week Seven: Tyler Arrington, Wingfield
Week Eight: Damarion Snow, Pelahatchie
Week Nine: Ny Johnson, Germantown
Week 10: Baker Craig, Park Place Christian Academy
Week 11: Jay McQueen, Brandon
