Leechburg’s Jayden Floyd selected 2024 Valley News Dispatch offensive player of the year

By: Michael Love
Saturday, December 14, 2024 | 10:27 PM

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Offensive player of the year

Jayden Floyd

Leechburg, QB/OLB, sr.

Jayden Floyd joined some exclusive WPIAL company last year as only the 17th quarterback in WPIAL history to throw for 1,000 yards and run for 1,000 yards in the same season.

The Leechburg senior now is part of an even more exclusive group of signal callers — there are only three members — who have accomplished the feat in multiple seasons.

The first two were New Kensington native and Shady Side Academy graduate Skyy Moore and current Fort Cherry standout Matt Sieg.

Floyd reached that level this year in the Blue Devils’ run to a program-record fourth straight WPIAL playoff appearance.

He completed 111 of 183 passes for 1,477 yards and 10 touchdowns and also used his feet to collect 1,267 yards and 28 scores on 120 rushes.

“It is an amazing feeling,” said Floyd, who helped Leechburg finish the 2024 season 8-3 overall and in third place (5-2) in the Eastern Conference behind Clairton and Greensburg Central Catholic.

“I really couldn’t have done any of it without my teammates and coaches. They are the ones who helped get me to that and help develop me as a player. It is just so amazing to be included in that list with so many other great quarterbacks who have come through the WPIAL. It’s also an honor to be on that list with Skyy and Matt.”

Floyd made his mark in his final season with the Blue Devils and, for that, has been selected this year’s Valley News Dispatch Offensive Player of the Year.

Floyd, who started out as a slot receiver his freshman year before transitioning to quarterback, said his season numbers were nice to look at, but his main goal was doing whatever he could to help his team win with his athletic ability and skill and also his leadership.

“I was always all for the team,” Floyd said.

Floyd said the four playoff seasons with his Blue Devils’ teammates were, in a way, a blur to him.

“It went by so fast, especially since we did so many amazing things,” he said.

Floyd said in a season full of big moments, the 35-13 Week 4 win over Jeannette stood out the most.

“We were both 3-0 heading into the game,” Floyd said. “They had a lot of hype, and we had a lot of hype. We had to go down there on the road. I am sure, on a lot of the media pages I saw, that no one thought we were going to win. We ended up beating them by three touchdowns, and that is the same team that went to the WPIAL semifinals. We really came together more as a team that game.”

Floyd said putting in the offseason work in the weight room and on the field and being dedicated to his teammates helped him prepare for his final season.

Leechburg saw its season come to an end in the WPIAL Class A first round with a 34-20 home loss to Cornell.

“I have so much respect for (quarterback) Kymon’e Brown and that whole Jeannette team,” Floyd said.

“I followed them through the whole playoffs and watched their games against GCC (quarterfinals) and Fort Cherry (semifinals). Each time I went, I was rooting for Jeannette because they were from our conference. But at the same time, in my head, I was thinking that we beat them and how this could be us playing in these (playoff rounds).”

Leechburg coach Randy Walters said he will remember Floyd as a special do-it-all player who fueled a lot of the program’s recent success.

“He was tough as nails and didn’t complain about whatever was asked of him,” Walters said.

“He took coaching well and was such a good leader of his peers and a lot of the younger players who found themselves on the field. He just was a winner. He always tried to get that extra yard with his feet or make that throw. Fortunately for us, he was a kid that could do both of those things very well. He is going to be very hard to replace.”

With his Leechburg career behind him, Floyd now turns his attention to his academic and football pursuits at the next level.

Floyd paid a visit to Bloomsburg on Saturday and will visit Webber International in Florida next month.

He hopes to make a decision a couple weeks before the start of the regular signing period for football Feb. 5.

“Bloomsburg was the first school that offered me, so they hold a special place in my heart,” Floyd said. “I love the coaching staff and how they run the team. I love the campus. It would be a great fit for me.

“I was born in Florida, so it would be cool to return home. We’ll see how that plays out in the recruiting process. Those two schools are probably my final two right now, but I feel I still have time to reel in a few more offers.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Leechburg