Gibson catching fire

For most people, breaking one state record would be a spectacular career. Rabun County High School senior wide receiver Jaden Gibson broke three this season, including one of the longest-standing state records in Georgia high school football history.

Gibson broke the career receiving yards record that was held by Stan Rome, set 49 years ago. The only longer-standing record in state history is passing touchdowns in a game, set in 1962 by Ed Staten.

“It’s just unreal,” Gibson said. “Looking at that record standing for almost 50 years, it makes me think maybe I can hold it for that long, too.”

Gibson, a three-star recruit who came to Rabun County from Dawson County after his sophomore year, broke the record eight games into the season after a 285-yard performance against Elbert County on Friday, Oct. 14. Rome held the record with 4,477 receiving yards, while Gibson ended his career with 5,124.

But that’s not the only record Gibson holds as he leaves RCHS. Gibson also snagged the career receiving touchdowns record on that night in October. To make it even sweeter, he broke both the receiving yards and receiving touchdowns records with the same touchdown catch, his fourth of the night against Elbert County.

“That night at Elbert County is probably my favorite memory,” Gibson said. “Just seeing how excited everyone was, obviously I was excited too but I think my family was more excited than I was.”

The touchdown record was set by Travis Hunter of Collins Hill in 2021, who ended with 48 career touchdowns. Gibson leaves Rabun County with 59 touchdowns, 29 of which came this season.

Those 29 touchdown catches this year also set a state record for the most in a season. Gibson passed former RCHS wideout Adriel Clark with the final touchdown catch of his high school career, against Swainsboro in the Georgia High School Association’s quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 25.

Each year Gibson got better, with his freshman year totaling 365 yards and three touchdowns.

His sophomore year he notched 931 yards with eight touchdowns while being named Dawson County’s Most Valuable Player and making first team All-Region.

His junior year, his first with Rabun County, he exploded with 1,878 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“I had a lot more opportunities at Rabun County,” Gibson said. “Obviously playing with quarterbacks like Gunner Stockton and Keegan helped a lot, and the coaching staff has been incredible. That’s the biggest difference from Dawson County, here you’re going to be coached like a college or pro athlete.”

His senior year, joined by best friend quarterback Keegan Stover who transferred from West Forsyth, Gibson again exceeded his previous year with 1,950 receiving yards and the record-setting 29 touchdowns.

First-year head coach Michael Davis, who was offensive coordinator last year before taking over the head coaching position, said he saw tremendous growth in Gibson as a leader from his junior to senior year.

“His junior year he was in more of a backseat just because of the leaders we had in the senior class,” Davis said. “I really saw him become a lot more comfortable in leadership this year. He was always the first one in, working really hard in the weight room, a lot more vocal with his leadership.”

Davis said he saw Gibson bring younger players under his wing to help them grow.

“He’s very cerebral, he has to win through technique and understanding routes so he would always try and help the younger guys get lined up right or make sure they understand why they’re running it this way,” Davis said. “It’s cool to see, I mean this is the most decorated receiver in the state we’ve seen for a while.”

Gibson said he hopes this season will make the next generation of Wildcats confident they can have the same success as the 2022 ‘Cats.

“A lot of people doubted us before this year,” Gibson said. “They thought we wouldn’t be good or even make the playoffs. Going 10-0 we shocked a lot of people, even ourselves. It really shows that if you work hard enough you can achieve anything.”

His junior and senior seasons ranked third and second, respectively, in state history for receiving yards in a season, only 96 yards behind Marcayll Jones in first place.

Gibson said he models his game after Cooper Kupp and Hunter Renfrow, athletes who win more with technique and craft than blistering speed or power.

Gibson also is seventh place for receiving yards in a game, set during that game against Elbert County.

With his help, the 2022 Wildcats went undefeated in the regular season for only the second time in school history. RCHS also set a school scoring record this year, racking up 72 points against Adairsville on Friday, Sept. 2. That night Gibson had 182 yards and four touchdowns.

“I said this about Gunner and I’ll say this about Jaden,” Davis said. “They’re better kids off the field than they are on the field. Jaden’s just a lot of fun to be around.”

Davis called Gibson “very adventurous,” remembering a story from the summer.

“My family and I were living on Lake Burton at the time, and the Gibson’s have two jet skis,” Davis said. “So Jaden and Keegan took the jet skis to come see us, but we weren’t home. So Jaden just started making himself at home, making himself some lunch and they sent us some photos of them just making themselves at home while we weren’t there.”

Davis said the biggest takeaway from coaching and watching Gibson is how much he loves the game.

“Just watching him, how much fun he has when he’s playing football, he just loves to play,” Davis said. “He’s got great parents, his family is very athletic, very competitive. I think his sister is going to be better than Jaden.”

Gibson highlighted St. Francis cornerback Branden Strozier, a four-star Clemson commit, as the toughest defender he’s played against.

“He’s really long and athletic,” Gibson said. “But Coach Davis did a good job moving me around and putting me in motion, which I love. I’d rather play inside than outside, I feel like I can get open more with technique instead of trying to take the top off the defense from the outside.”

Davis also mentioned Strozier when talking about Gibson’s competitive nature.

“If I were to describe Jaden in two words, it’s ‘fierce competitor,’” Davis said. “The bigger the situation, the more he rose to it. He wants to go against the best corners, he wants that challenge. Some people shy away from those situations but he wants that. To be the best you have to take chances, you can’t worry about failing. He doesn’t worry about failing, he just goes out there and plays. He really has no fear.”

Gibson now continues his college search where he is unsure what major he will pursue. Some possible majors he listed were business, real estate or construction. He also mentioned possibly going into coaching.

Gibson has 17 offers according to 247Sports, the most recent of which being the ACC’s Virginia who gave him the offer on Oct. 18 shortly after his record-breaking night at Elbert County.

Gibson said he wanted to thank the fans and community of Rabun County for always showing up.

“Thank you for being there every Friday,” Gibson said. “A lot of people have helped me get to where I am, I wouldn’t be here without them, and I hope one day I can repay them.

“Rabun County always brought an unreal atmosphere, whether there were 20 people in the crowd or 2,000, you knew it was going to be loud. It’ll always be special to me, it’s the place where all these dreams became a reality.”