With speedster Ryan O’Keefe out for the year, former Catholic Memorial star Jaedn Skeete has been relied upon more in the BC offense.
The freshman has risen to the occasion and then some.
Not only has Skeete made some highlight reel catches already, but his eight grabs for 89 yards and a touchdown in the last three games since his number’s been called have helped make BC bowl-eligible. As a still-growing-by-the-day player, Skeete’s been happy with his progress so far.
“I definitely do think I’ve grown as a player,” he said on Monday morning. “Just being around Coach Wyatt and a bunch of other great athletes, the other great wide receivers that are here, they’ve helped me to develop, helped me to put details into my game. Just helping me master what I need to do.”
Skeete’s biggest lesson learned so far? The little things are everything when it comes to D1 football.
“Details. Being where you’re supposed to be at the right time,” said Skeete. “Just executing, player harder than the guy in front of you.”
Early in the year during camp, head coach Jeff Hafley made time for practice sessions just for the young guys. Those paid dividends, especially as Skeete had to wait around until the UConn game to really get his first opportunity to show what he could do at this level.
“It’s a long process, the season’s always long. For someone starting off not playing, you’ve just got to be humble. Just do your work. Do what you’re supposed to do and eventually, you’ll get where you want to be.”
CM coach John DiBiaso may be working on getting the Knights back to Gillette Stadium, but he’s also still been a big resource.
“I do (still talk to him on a regular basis). He’s helped me since my senior year, just mentoring me, He’s always told me what it would be like or what to expect, so his words have stuck with me and I’ve used them. But yeah, I do still talk to him on a weekly basis.”
It also hasn’t hurt having a former CM teammate in Max Tucker to go through the transition with. Tucker has made an impact on defense early on too, even starting at times.
It’s great, that’s been my brother since we grew up. Same high school, same middle school. we always played together, so it’s great to have him here. He’s a good DB, aggressive guy that likes to come down and make hard tackles. He flies around the field, he’s fast. He’s a great athlete. It’s good to have him here. It’s fun, it feels like high school all over again.”
Being a local kid from Hyde Park playing for the major D1 program in the area and contributing to that program’s success immediately has been a dream come true already for Skeete as well, even if he’s modeled his game after guys like Ceeedee Lamb and Justin Jefferson.
“It means a lot,” he added. “I’ve got a lot of family and people around. Just being a good athlete, being here doing what I’m supposed to do where I grew up, it means a lot to me.”
Skeete is also well aware of CM making another run and believes the Knights will be brining another title back home to West Roxbury. He also acknowledged that the experience playing under the bright lights of Gillette with Hafley standing in the end zone did a lot for his confidence and recruiting, for both him and Tucker.
“Oh, yeah, I do,” he said with a big grin when asked if he’s still talking to former teammates wearing the silver and red. “They’re doing good. I think they’ll end up winning it all. I might be biased. Just (Hafley) being there (at the state championship Super Bowls), there was a play where Max made scored on a corner. Coach Hafley was standing right there, I ran over and we got a chance to, you know, he got a chance to experience that being right there and seeing him right there just meant a lot.”
All of the younger guys are making sure they can last another four weeks, where as the winter high school season was starting soon for Skeete, Tucker and some others less than 12 months ago.
“Just treatment. After every practice, every game I’m in the trainer’s room doing everything I can to get my body right, back to 100%. Got to stay healthy it’s a long season.”