KFBCA Top 11: Jayden Woods

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams in early December, including the All-Class Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Mill Valley defensive end Jayden Woods' capsule below. For a look at the complete 2024 KFBCA All-State teams click here.

Jayden Woods, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior defensive end from Mill Valley High School, leaves behind a legacy as one of the most decorated defensive players in Kansas high school football history. A key member of Mill Valley’s powerhouse program, Woods was named the 2024 Sports in Kansas 5A Defensive Player of the Year and the All-Classes Defensive Player of the Year, marking the second time he earned both honors. He also became a two-time Sports in Kansas Top 11 selection and is signed to continue his football career at the University of Florida after receiving scholarship offers from dozens of Division I programs.

Over his senior season, Woods tallied 90 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and an interception, bringing his career totals to 212 tackles, 20.5 sacks, and 25.5 tackles for loss across 37 games. Known for his ability to dominate in key moments, Woods led a Mill Valley defense that consistently performed at an elite level, even as the team narrowly missed another state title in 2024 with a one-point loss to eventual champion St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 5A sectional round.

“Jayden is a tremendous leader in our program,” Mill Valley head coach Joel Applebee said. “He leads by example on the field, in the school, and in the community. He is a true role model for any of his peers and young kids in our community.”
Woods’ physical presence and preparedness for each game made him a serious problem for opposing offenses.

“Jayden makes some type of impact on almost every play,” Applebee said. “He is a game changer when it comes to his preparation and play on the field. Teams were constantly game-planning around him.”

Throughout his senior season, Woods delivered several standout performances that showcased his dominance on the defensive line. In Mill Valley's 42-35 win over Olathe South to open the season, Woods tallied 11 tackles, three sacks and three quarterback hurries, setting the tone for his final high school campaign. Against Gardner Edgerton, he recorded 12 tackles, including eight solo stops, and added two tackles for loss in a hard-fought 41-35 Week 6 victory over the defending 6A champs who would eventually go on to repeat. In the sectional playoff game against St. Thomas Aquinas, the last for Woods in a Jaguar uniform, he notched a season-high 15 tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble in a heartbreaking one-point loss that likely featured the top two teams in 5A.

“There are so many plays throughout the season and his career that come to mind,” Applebee said. “Jayden plays his best in the biggest moments.”

Woods’ athletic achievements extend beyond football. A three-time state champion in track and field, he has claimed two state titles in the discus, with a personal best of 180-3, and another in the shot put, with a top mark of 56-3.5. 
As Woods prepares to take his talents to the University of Florida, he leaves behind a legacy defined by excellence and an unmatched ability to elevate his team in the biggest moments.