How speedy Texas RB Jaydon Blue sets himself apart: ‘Make a lot of guys miss, a lot of people won’t catch me’

HOUSTON – When Jaydon Blue accelerates into the open field, his rare speed and athleticism create instant mismatches and potential breakaway touchdown runs.

There aren’t a lot of defensive players who can keep up with Blue, a University of Texas standout running back who excelled at football and track and field for Klein Cain in high school.

Now, Blue is taking his talents to the NFL as he awaits which team he’ll be selected by this week.

“The talent and the things that I can do, I do a lot of things that a lot of backs can’t do,” Blue told KPRC 2. “That’s me being able to run routes out the backfield, catch passes like a natural receiver and I just make a lot of guys miss, I take a lot of pride in winning my one-on-ones and that’s not something a lot of backs do every time and it’s almost automatic for me.”

Blue has run the 40-yard dash in 4.25 and 4.28 seconds unofficially at the Longhorns’ campus Pro Day workout, which was attended by Texans general manager Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans.

Blue has true breakaway speed, with a proven ability to race away from pursuit.

Blue ran an official time of 4.38 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. His official Pro Day time was 4.38 again.

The only faster time among the running backs at the combine was Virginia Tech standout Bhayshal Tuten, who had a 4.32 clocking.

“My speed, I know if I run as fast as I can, a lot of people won’t catch me,” Blue said. “So, it’s definitely good having the edge."

Blue visited the hometown Texans along with the Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos and had a Zoom meeting with the Baltimore Ravens.

Yes, staying home and playing for the Texans and working in tandem with bruising Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon is an extremely attractive scenario for Blue. At his visit to NRG Stadium Mixon met with Ryans, general manager Nick Caserio and running backs coach Danny Barrett, the Texans’ assistant head coach.

“It was very cool, I enjoyed it, really liked the coaching staff, coach DeMeco is a very good guy,” said Blue, who added that the chicken wing lunch he had at NRG Stadium was off the charts. “Same thing with the GM, very close with the running back coach. So, I’m glad I got a chance to be able to have a visit with my hometown.”

The Texans met with several running backs in the draft process, including a visit with SMU running back Brashard Smith and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins and a virtual meeting with TreVeyon Henderson.

Perhaps the Texans will draft a running back. Blue got that general impression that is a realistic possibility.

"Yeah, of course I did, I talked with coach Barrett, coach DeMeco, and they told me that they wanted to add a back with speed,“ Blue said. ”They’re in the offense, and I would love to play for them, man.

“Nothing better than getting to play in the NFL for your hometown. So, I’m very blessed to get a chance to compensate with them."

At Texas, Blue saved his best for last in his final college season.

He rushed for a career-high 730 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 42 passes for 368 yards and six touchdowns.

He finished with 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground for his career and 56 catches for 503 yards and seven scores.

Blue “really liked” the Bills coaching staff and meeting with the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles and his interactions with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin

“I really like Philly, Philly is very cool,” Blue said. “I love their facility. They were a great staff and it was just fun. Coach Tomlin, very, very good guy, someone I can relate to, you know, I’ve spent a lot of time with him.

“Besides the visit, you know, talked to him at the Pro Day, talked to him before the Pro Day. He’s really similar to me. Man, he’s laidback. He likes to have a lot of fun.”

Blue is hoping to forge a defined role as a rookie and be a part of a winning football team.

“Win, of course, and going in and prove myself, getting respect from the vets in the locker room,” Blue said. “And just proving to the coaches that I’m here to stay, that I’m not a one-trick pony and I can do multiple things.”

One of Blue’s mentors from Austin has already established himself in the NFL: former Texas star running back Bijan Robinson.

“He taught me a lot of things,” Blue said. “At Texas, that was a guy that I looked up to. He did everything right. He was a great leader. he was a very good football player, everybody knows how talented he is. He taught me things on and off the field. I credit him. He’s helped me a lot along the way.”

Blue played behind several excellent running backs at Texas, including Carolina Panthers runner Jonathon Brooks.

Now, it’s his turn to shine and showcase his skills.

He’ll have a draft party in Houston with family, friends and teammates.

The speed that Blue has displayed has been a known commodity since his high school days as an all-state selection.

The 5-foot-9, 196-pound speedster rushed for 2,155 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior in high school before opting out of his senior year to concentrate on college football. He chose Texas over Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Oklahoma.

At Klein Cain, he worked in tandem with wide receiver Matthew Golden. Golden is the fastest receiver in the draft with a 4.29 clocking at the combine.

Blue and Golden competed in track.

“I won. but that’s my dog,” Blue said. “Grew up with him, that’s family to me. It was really good to get a chance to play with him on the high school and the college level. He’s gotten faster. We’re older, more mature. I think he’s the best receiver in this draft.

“He brings a lot of things to the table a lot of other receivers don’t. He can run after the catch. He has strong hands. He can run routes. He proved how fast he is. I think he’s the best receiver in the draft.”

The support and love Blue gets from his mother, Sha’Qura Martin, has been pivotal to his development, on and off the field.

“My mom is everything to me, that’s my right hand,” Blue said. “She’s been there every step of the way. She doesn’t cut any corners. I just love her, man. I don’t think I’d be here at all if it wasn’t for her. She sacrificed so much for me to be at this stage.”

Blue recently met with the Acres Home Bulldogs, counseling the youth football players about how to approach life and football.

“Man, just enjoy the moment, man,” Blue said. “Don’t take anything for granted, because you never know what will happen in the sport of football. The main thing I told them is to just have fun.

“Just have fun, enjoy it man and just love your teammates. You may not even play with them again. The main thing is just enjoying your teammates and enjoying the game and making sure that you have fun.”

This is an extremely proud moment for his mother.

“I haven’t missed a game, I was his team mom,” she said. “We share a lot. I’m very, very excited.”

When the moment comes, when Blue hears his name called, it figures to be an emotional touchstone for him and his family. They’ve waited and work for this for a long time.

“I’m surprised that he said he may cry,” Blue’s mother said. “I thought I would cry before him. Playing in the NFL, that’s where he’s at. I’m not surprised. Just have faith, keep God first and work hard. I’m not missing a game for nothing in the world.”

Now, the time is finally here. Wherever Blue winds up, he’ll be a happy man.

“This is something I really dreamed of,” Blue said. “I would have never known that I’d be here a few years ago. So, it’s a special moment. To have that NFL title next to my name, it means a lot. It just shows all the work I’ve put, since I was little, since I first started playing ball.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com