Recent Alumnus Jaylen Watson Named to 2024 NFF Team of Distinction

Former Central Catholic student-athlete Jaylen Watson (Class of 2024) has been named to the 2024 National Football Foundation Team of Distinction.  A Midwest Region honoree, Watson was 1 of 84 student-athletes nationwide to be recognized by a nationwide Chapter Network, the National Football Foundation, & College Hall of Fame.   

As part of its mission to promote the scholar-athlete ideal, the NFF honors the top high school scholar-athletes from around the country as the best and the brightest at the local level while highlighting the work of the NFF Chapter Network.

The members of the team all played their final high school football season during the 2023-24 school year.  Criteria to make the team include (but are not limited to) academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement. Each chapter is limited to one honoree, distinguishing them as the top scholar-athlete from all the high schools covered by the chapter.

This past fall, Watson tallied 62 receptions for 1,101 yards and 9 TDs.  He was also credited with 5 scores on the ground, en route to being selected 1st-team All-Ohio.  A member of the NFF Wistert-Toledo Chapter, Watson registered the 2nd-most catches in school annals, the 3rd-most receiving yards, and tied for the 6th-most TDs through the air.
 
Watson, who signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Iowa, helped the Fighting Irish capture their 2nd straight OHSAA state championship and 6th in program history (1962, 2005, ‘12, ‘14, ’22, ‘23). Central Catholic posted a perfect 16-0 overall ledger and a 6-0 mark in the Catholic High School League (CHSL), establishing a school record for wins in a season.

In the classroom, Watson was a member of the National Honor Society and the Honor Roll, graduating with a 3.83 GPA.

Since 1954, the NFF Chapters have played an integral role in supporting and promoting the game of football at the amateur level while honoring the top scholar-athletes in their local areas.  With more than 12,000 members, the nationwide NFF Chapter Network impacts more than 500,000 student-athletes at 5,000 high schools across the country each year.

For more information about the NFF and to see the complete list of 2024 Team of Distinction honorees, please click HERE.