Student-Athlete Features
VUCommodores.com — Shake it Up

As a Sophomore (2023)
• Returned a kickoff for 97 yards and a touchdown in win over Hawai’i
• Hornung Award Honor Roll (Sept. 6)
• Hornung Award Watch List

As a Freshman (2022)
• Third team All-SEC kick returner (Phil Steele)
• Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Played in all 12 games as a freshman, catching 44 passes for 453 yards and three touchdowns
• Had at least two catches in 11-of-12 games on the season
• Returned 16 kickoffs for 384 yards
• 24 yards per kickoff return ranked third in the SEC and 20th in FBS
• Touchdown among three receptions in win over Florida
• Totaled 104 receiving yards and a touchdown on a season-best seven catches against Ole Miss
• Recorded a touchdown and 118 receiving yards in win against Elon
• Named SEC Freshman of the Week for performance against the Phoenix, Vanderbilt’s first freshman of the week since 2018

The McGowan File
• Enrolled at Vanderbilt in January 2022
• Played at Laurens District 55 High School for coach Daryl Smith
• Three-star prospect ranked by ESPN and On3 as the No. 6 player in the state of South Carolina and a top-100 wide receiver nationally
• Received both all-state and all-region honors following his senior campaign
• Grabbed 38 catches for 817 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior
• Returned 13 punts for 317 yards and two scores, as well as eight kickoffs for 250 yards
• Blocked a pair of kicks
• Ran 22 times for 263 yards
• A two-sport athlete who also lettered in track and field
• Fastest athlete in South Carolina, running the 100-meters in 10.6 seconds and the 200-meters in 21.6 seconds
• Earned scholarship offer after private Vanderbilt workout during 2021 summer
• Majoring in medicine, health and society

Jayden McGowan