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Friday, February 1, 2019
Jordan Kent was coming off a stellar junior season in which he caught the fifth-most touchdown passes in state history, but the Jackson wide receiver didn't get complacent.
Following the 2017 season, Kent continued to work and developed chemistry with Cael Welker over the summer, a development that proved important when Welker took over as the Indians' quarterback in 2018.
There were questions surrounding the team following the graduation of record-setting quarterback Cooper Callis, but with Kent providing some much-needed experience, the Indians answered all doubters with their first undefeated regular season in more than a decade. They followed that with the program's first district title since 2014.
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
2019 All-Missourian Football - Jordan Kent - Jackson
2019 All-Missourian Football - Jordan Kent - Jackson
When the season came to an end in a Class 5 quarterfinal against eventual state champion Vianney, it was with Kent sidelined after he suffered an injury on the opening kickoff.
It was a disappointing end to an outstanding high school career, but his play did earn him the title of 2018 Southeast Missourian Football Player of the Year.
Despite missing time due to injury, Kent finished with 1,498 yards on 76 receptions and hauled in 28 touchdowns, the second-highest single-season mark in Missouri.
"We were able to lean on him and in critical situations, we were able to design things for him and the quarterback didn't have to know quite as much," Jackson coach Brent Eckley said. "... It made it a lot easier."
Kent got playing time as a freshman, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Quentin, who he played with for two seasons. It was in his final two years, though, that he began to put up eye-popping numbers. During that stretch, Kent caught 48 touchdown tosses and ended high school with 65 TD career receptions, second in state history behind former Missouri and NFL player Dorial Green-Beckham's mark of 72.
Jackson wide receiver Jordan Kent carries a NWO belt on the sideline after scoring a touchdown during a game against Farmington on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Jackson.
Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian
With Callis, who was the 2017 Semoball Awards Football Offense Athlete of the Year, directing the offense, Kent blossomed as a No. 1 option as a junior, with 81 receptions for 1,307 yards and 24 touchdowns. At the time, that season total was tied for fifth in state history.
Eckley said Kent's route-running improved greatly from his sophomore to junior season as well as his speed of play. Kent knew the information so well, he would react without thinking.
That experience combined with his athleticism allowed Kent to outrun defenders, make one-handed catches or simply read the right hole to hit on a wide-receiver screen.
Before his senior season Kent practiced with Welker, and the two worked on timing and routes.
"It was pretty good, knowing we would have him, and it all started in the offseason of course when we go in and throw," Welker said. "Me and him would go out to the field and just throw. I always knew how fast he was and where I need to put the ball and where he would be."
Jackson wide receiver Jordan Kent breaks through the Poplar Bluff defense on his way to the end zone during the Indians' home win Friday.
Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian
That chemistry proved crucial when Welker took over as the starting quarterback for the season opener and didn't relinquish the job for the rest of the season, earning an All-Southeast Missourian nod as a sophomore.
"I knew I would always have someone to rely on," Welker said. "When I would scramble, he would get me out of it. It was just really good having a player like him."
Behind a potent offense and a resurgent defense, the Indians opened the season with a 42-0 win over Webster Groves. In the home opener a week later, on a new turf field, Kent had five touchdowns in a 35-0 win, equaling the third-highest single game total in Missouri. He did so against a Parkway North secondary that included Missouri signee Jalani Williams.
2019 All-Missourian Football - Jackson
Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian
"It felt amazing," Kent said. "First home game, a lot of people there to see how the turf was and see how the Jackson Indians played."
From there, Jackson kept winning. That included a road win over eventual Class 5 state semifinalist Battle, in which Kent scored a touchdown on Jackson's first play from scrimmage. Screen plays are one of the many areas Kent excels in, Eckley said.
Even when teams didn't double-team Kent, which could prove tough to do with how many wide receivers lined up for Jackson, he drew extra attention from safeties or linebackers. That, in turn, allowed other wideouts to get open.
"We know we'll miss him a ton because we realize everybody else was more open because he was on the field," Eckley said. "That's something we have to adjust for next year. Everyone will get equal coverage next year until someone steps to the front."
With Kent providing a reliable option for Welker, Jackson secured its first unbeaten regular season since 2007 with a win over Parkway Central on Nov. 19.
"That was our goal, to go undefeated, because we knew it would be history," Kent said. "It felt great after we knew that we accomplished it."
Jackson wide receiver Jordan Kent rushes the last few yards before breaking through the Fox Warriors defense for a touchdown during the Indians' home win Friday.
Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian
Then, the focus turned to winning a district title. Kent did his part with two touchdown catches in the district championship win over Fox. It was the first district title for Kent and the rest of the senior class.
Then against Vianney, which had ended Jackson's season the three previous years, disaster struck when Kent went down on the opening kickoff. Jackson ended up losing to the Golden Griffins 69-28.
Since then, Kent has been going to rehab twice a week in an effort to get healthy and attract a college offer. Despite his stellar high school career and eye-popping numbers, Kent said he has just one offer right now.
Kent wants to play in college, though, and as the past few years have demonstrated, whenever Kent puts his mind to achieving a goal on the gridiron, nothing is beyond his reach.
"He is a really good athlete," Eckley said. "He's competitive, catches the ball well, and he's worked really hard at running his routes better, so he's been able to create a little more space between him and his defender."
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