Tacoma is losing a blue-chip recruit. Lincoln’s Jayden Wayne to transfer to IMG Academy in Florida
Tacoma is losing a blue chip prospect and talented high school football player. Lincoln’s Jayden Wayne, who is in the class of 2023, announced on Twitter that he’s planning to transfer from Lincoln to IMG Academy in Florida.
IMG is consistently ranked among the nation’s top high school football programs, attracting talent from all over the country. That track record of fostering and developing top-end talent was attractive to Wayne, he told The News Tribune on Tuesday.
“I want to graduate early and just trying to compete against the best,” he said. “Just get ready for the next level.”
Wayne is considered a four-star recruit by 247sports.com and a five-star recruit in the site’s composite rankings. He was the top-rated recruit in the 2023 class in the state of Washington and is the fifth-ranked edge rusher nationally. He’s perhaps the most coveted recruit ever to come out of Lincoln High School. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder holds 42 offers and is considering Miami, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Michigan State and Oregon.
Wayne said lining up against high-caliber players with recruiting profiles similar to his was important to him. He played both ways for Lincoln last fall but will play strictly defense — where he’ll play in college — at IMG.
“I think it’ll help a lot (with my development),” Wayne said.
The final list of college programs Wayne is considering has a heavy southern influence, but Wayne said getting down south a year early wasn’t a consideration in his decision to attend IMG. Wayne was a first-team selection to The News Tribune’s 2021 All-Area team after a breakout year. He had 44 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 13 quarterback hurries and forced a fumble for the Abes.
He said leaving Lincoln was a difficult decision for him, growing up in the Tacoma area and having good friendships with his teammates.
“Just really the community,” Wayne said he’ll miss. “All the support, teammates, people coming to watch our games. Just working together.”
His teammates and Lincoln head coach Masaki Matsumoto wished him luck on Twitter. Wayne said the reaction has been supportive from teammates and said Tacoma will always be home.
“Just going to represent Tacoma, the 253,” he said.
This story was originally published June 28, 2022 at 3:19 PM.
