Wise (MD) three-star quarterback Jayden Sauray was in attendance at the P.G. County Media Day at Athletic Republic on Tuesday as the senior is ready for year two as the starting quarterback. Back in 2019, Sauray took the field as a first-year starter where he and former four-star receiver Jalil Farooq connected quickly en route to Wise’s fourth state championship in five seasons. Nearly two years later, though, and Sauray is prepared to hit the field again as the last year forced him to grow off the field.
“Just being a leader because with COVID, I had to be a leader from 50 feet away or house-to-house. I had to tell [my teammates] to study their plays, focus on the playbook, do pushups at home, situps. I became a better leader on and off the field, it helped me build my character,” Sauray told Inside the Black and Gold. The leadership role that Sauray ascended to was a gradual transformation over time, but one that now helps Sauray command respect inside the huddle. Sauray’s maturation over the last two seasons wasn’t lost on Wise head coach DaLawn Parrish heading into the fall.
“I think he’s done a tremendous job. He goes bowling with the players. He does things that all the time as coaches, we get questions about,” Parrish added. “You need leaders that will be your second voice, do it on your own. He’s done a tremendous job of organizing events like bowling. I call him like ‘man where are you?’ and he’ll say ‘coach I’m getting at them.’ Going out, throwing together so to me, that’s the beauty of high school sports.”
The leadership traits are skills that college coaches covet in their potential quarterbacks and with Sauray taking the next step off the field, the time to prove it on the field is quickly approaching. After throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns as a sophomore, Sauray's goal is to be more efficient with the ball this fall. “I have to be that guy for us to win. I feel like if I play bad, we’re going to be bad. Just lead my team. Even if I make mistakes, I can’t be down or go in my head because I’m no longer a sophomore. I’m a senior. I have to be the man for the team.”
Parrish sees the improved understanding in Sauray’s game now compared to sophomore year. “He knows everything. He knows the whole offense, he knows what to expect. When he makes mistakes, he now knows what he did wrong. That’s a big difference from when he was in tenth grade and he knew it, but when he made mistakes he didn’t know why.”
Sauray’s maturity off the field and development on the field is exactly why Maryland prioritized the local ‘22 quarterback since the staff offered back in December of 2019. It took a bit longer than expected for Sauray to announce his decision, but that verbal came to fruition back on April 26 after new offensive coordinator Dan Enos added to the relationship that head coach Mike Locksley and running backs coach Elijah Brooks already built. After returning to campus back in June, Sauray and his family were back on campus on July 31 for the invite-only recruit barbeque in College Park.
“I went on a visit with my mom, my brother, my girlfriend so it was a fun time at the cookout. Ate good food, my mom and girlfriend actually painted up there. I played with some of the players like Tarheeb [Still], Rakim [Jarrett]. It was a lot of fun, got a lot of time to bond with my future team.” Sauray also got a chance to connect further with Enos as the bond that was once established through Zoom and Facetime led to comfort once the two met in-person.
“All we did was Facetime before,” Sauray added. “With the conversations we’ve had, it’s been great honestly. His resume speaks for itself, has a lot of great quarterbacks he’s taught—Mac Jones, Jalen Hurts. I feel like I’m in the right spot. Coach [Dan] Enos knows how to work with quarterbacks like me so I feel like it’s a great spot with a great future.”
Sauray has been the primary recruiter for Maryland’s in-state targets and although the Terps have missed on a pair of his 7-on-7 teammates in Mansoor Delane and KJ Winston, Sauray feels a personal responsibility to add talent to Maryalnd’s 2022 class. “I feel like as the quarterback, it’s just my job. This is my state, this is my city and my team in the future so I feel like it’s my job to get the guys to come play with me at the University of Maryland.”
His primary recruiting target is still the nation’s top inside linebacker, who happens to be Maryland’s top overall target this cycle.
“Jaishawn Barham, for sure. We just want to get the guys here to stay home. We lost KJ [Winston] but it’s not over, the race isn’t over so you know. I’m not going to force anybody to come but it’s not over. Shaleak Knotts, the receiver from North Carolina, he’s pretty nasty. Some guys here and there, some lineman but just focused on those.”
Sauray is rated a three-star prospect and an 86 overall by 247Sports, sitting as the 44th-best quarterback in the nation.