Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – The success for West High senior receiver Jalen Gaudet is no surprises.

Talk to just about anyone inside the West High football program and they will offer up a different explanation for what makes Gaudet a next to impossible matchup for prep defenders.

Some say it is size that makes the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Gaudet hard to defend.

“He’s has the size and he knows how to use his body,” West High offensive coordinator Andrew Durham explained.

Sophomore quarterback Marcus Morgan believes it’s his speed.

“He is definitely a lot faster than what people think,” Morgan said.

West High head coach Garrett Hartwig has another explanation.

“He’s smart, he’s a tough kid and he works extremely hard,” Hartwig said. “He’s got a great work ethic.”

There are no shortages of explanations for what makes Gaudet one of the best receivers in the state.

What even Gaudet himself can’t explain is a senior season filled with what seems like a careers worth of long receptions.

“I’m not sure how to explain that,” Gaudet said. “It’s a lot of things coming together at the same time I guess. Good throws, good play calls, just good execution.”

That may be the only time this season the play of Gaudet is explained as only ‘good’.

The senior has been nothing short of exceptional this season entering Friday's regular season finale with City High (2-6) at Trojan Field.

Gaudet has 29 receptions and ranks fifth in Class 5A in receiving yards with 794.

His 27.4 yards per catch leads Class 4A among players with at least 20 receptions heading into the annual Battle for the Boot on Friday.

“I am his coach but I really believe he is the best receiver in the state,” Hartwig said. “He just makes every play.”

Gaudet was a solid second option last season playing alongside Traevis Buchanan who ranked second in the state with 1,165 receiving yards.

As a junior Gaudet caught 42 passes for 634 yards and four touchdowns a year ago.  

He has built on those numbers this season.

“I learned a lot from last year just what it takes to be successful at this level,” Gaudet said. “I think I’ve improved a lot from last year.”
Gaudet has quickly become not just one of the state’s best receivers but one of the top big-play threats in Iowa.

Half of his eight touchdowns this season have gone for 61 yards or longer and Gaudet has three touchdowns longer than 75 yards.

“He gets separation but it is really difficult for defenders to get him down,” Durham said. “His size makes him hard to tackle.”
The averaged distance for a Gaudet touchdown reception is more than 62 yards.

He doesn’t have a touchdown grab shorter than 15 yards this season and has a touchdown catch in all eight games for seventh-ranked West High (7-1).

Hartwig says it’s the rare combination of size and speed that factor into the big plays.

“He has good hands and with his size that makes him tough to defend but he’s fast,” Hartwig said. “He looks like a big receiver but no one has ever caught him.”

Morgan believes it’s the deception that helps Gaudet keep coming up with big plays.

The sophomore signal caller says defenders get fooled by Gaudet’s footspeed.

“He’s definitely a lot faster than what people think,” Morgan said. “I think he surprises some guys with how fast he really is.”
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