KFBCA Top 11: Jet Dineen

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams December 5th and 6th, including their Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Lawrence Free State defensive back Jet Dineen's capsule below and check back for more capsules throughout the week.

Jet Dineen, QB/DB, 5-10, 185, Lawrence Free State

Free State’s impressive 8-3 turnaround season - following a winless 2020 - came to an end after a loss to state powerhouse Derby in the Sectional round of the playoffs. Senior standout Jet Dineen led the way for the Firebirds and wowed crowds all season long. While his ability as a defensive back earned him his KFBCA 6A All-State nod, Dineen made an impact no matter the role he played for LFSHS, and KFBCA coaches selected Dineen as one of the Top 11 players in the state because of that versatility.

“Jet was our quarterback, free safety, and team captain,” third year Firebird head coach Kevin Stewart said. “He led our team in rushing yards, passing yards, and tackling. He was also our most proficient punter. More importantly, Jet was the overall leader on our team and he gave his teammates and coaches confidence that we could win each and every game.”

Although he was selected for his work on defense, as a signal caller Jet was exceptional, going 104 of 197 through the air, with 1,558 yards and 17 touchdowns with only three interceptions. He was just as effective on the ground with an 8.5 yards per carry average on 178 touches for 1,516 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. 

On the other side of the ball, the all-state safety selection finished with 77 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and two interceptions. Those numbers also don’t factor in the number of times wise quarterbacks avoided throwing in his direction altogether.

While Dineen is a great athlete, he’s equally adept in the classroom, carrying a 4.0 GPA. 

According to his head coach, his instincts and decision making on the field are what separates him from the pack.

“Jet is a smart student, but on the field his instincts play a bigger factor in his success than his smarts,” Stewart said. “I’m not trying to minimize his intelligence, but his awareness, experience and being around the game helped him more than his knowledge of the game. To me he is more of a football playmaker than anything. Super tough, great effort, great anticipation.”

Dineen’s own take wasn’t far off from his coach’s.

“I think my biggest strengths as a football player are my toughness, leadership, and my instincts,” Dineen said. “This helps my team because I can lead them, and we will never give up, we will always keep fighting.”

Dineen has multiple football offers at the DI, FCS, DII and JUCO levels and while he has yet to decide on his post high school football team, one certainty is his graduation leaving the Firebirds with a considerable void to fill.

“What we will miss most about Jet is his big playmaking ability,” Stewart said. “He has the ability to turn the game in our favor at any time. Because of Jet our team believes we can beat any team, and someone else will have to fill that role next season.”

And if you didn’t know, the Dineen family is one of the state’s all-time great in Kansas athletic history with major connections to the hometown University of Kansas athletic department. Jet’s mother, Jodi, played volleyball for the Jayhawks, older brothers Joe Jr. and Jay played linebacker at KU, and his grandfather, Ron Oelschlager, played running back at KU in the early mid-60s. Also, older brother Jax is a junior All-Big 12 fullback at K-State.

The KFBCA Top 11 and All-State selections consist of seniors from the Class of 2022 nominated and voted on by members of the Kansas Football Coaches Association. For more info about the KFBCA find them online at www.kfbca.com.