‘It was surreal,’ Cowboys draft ultra-fast Texas running back, Klein Cain graduate Jaydon Blue in fifth round

HOUSTON – When Jaydon Blue accelerates into the open field, his rare speed and athleticism create instant mismatches and potential breakaway touchdown runs.

There aren’t a lot of defensive players who can keep up with Blue, a University of Texas standout running back who excelled at football and track and field for Klein Cain in high school.

Now, Blue is taking his talents to the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round as their latest draft pick.

“It was surreal, it’s still surreal,” Blue told KPRC 2. “It’s something I’ve been working for my whole life. It’s a dream come true for me. For me to have the opportunity to be able to play for my home state, it means a lot to me.

“For me to get a chance to play on this stage, especially for America’s team, it means a lot to me. I will be able to get a good chance to showcase my skills at the highest level.

Blue has run the 40-yard dash in 4.25 and 4.28 seconds unofficially at the Longhorns’ campus Pro Day workout, which was attended by Texans general manager Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans.

Blue has true breakaway speed, with a proven ability to race away from pursuit.

“A talent, a great guy who’s willing to do whatever is best for the team,” Blue said. “A guy who’s going to come into the team and try to earn respect from my teammates and my coaches. The talent and the things that I can do, I do a lot of things that a lot of backs can’t do.

“That’s me being able to run routes out the backfield, catch passes like a natural receiver and I just make a lot of guys miss, I take a lot of pride in winning my one-on-ones and that’s not something a lot of backs do every time and it’s almost automatic for me.”

Blue ran an official time of 4.38 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. His official Pro Day time was 4.38 again.

The only faster time among the running backs at the combine was Virginia Tech standout Bhayshal Tuten, who had a 4.32 clocking.

“My speed, I know if I run as fast as I can, a lot of people won’t catch me,” Blue said. “So, it’s definitely good having the edge."

Blue visited the hometown Texans along with the Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos and had a Zoom meeting with the Baltimore Ravens.

At Texas, Blue saved his best for last in his final college season.

He rushed for a career-high 730 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 42 passes for 368 yards and six touchdowns.

He finished with 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground for his career and 56 catches for 503 yards and seven scores.

Blue is hoping to forge a defined role as a rookie and be a part of a winning football team.

“Win, of course, and going in and prove myself, getting respect from the vets in the locker room,” Blue said. “And just proving to the coaches that I’m here to stay, that I’m not a one-trick pony and I can do multiple things.”

One of Blue’s mentors from Austin has already established himself in the NFL: former Texas star running back Bijan Robinson.

“He taught me a lot of things,” Blue said. “At Texas, that was a guy that I looked up to. He did everything right. He was a great leader. he was a very good football player, everybody knows how talented he is. He taught me things on and off the field. I credit him. He’s helped me a lot along the way.”

Blue played behind several excellent running backs at Texas, including Carolina Panthers runner Jonathon Brooks.

Now, it’s his turn to shine and showcase his skills.

The speed that Blue has displayed has been a known commodity since his high school days as an all-state selection.

The 5-foot-9, 196-pound speedster rushed for 2,155 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior in high school before opting out of his senior year to concentrate on college football. He chose Texas over Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Oklahoma.

At Klein Cain, he worked in tandem with wide receiver Matthew Golden. Golden is the fastest receiver in the draft with a 4.29 clocking at the combine.

Blue and Golden competed in track.

“I won. but that’s my dog,” Blue said. “Grew up with him, that’s family to me. It was really good to get a chance to play with him on the high school and the college level. He’s gotten faster. We’re older, more mature. I think he’s the best receiver in this draft.

“He brings a lot of things to the table a lot of other receivers don’t. He can run after the catch. He has strong hands. He can run routes. He proved how fast he is. I think he’s the best receiver in the draft.”

The support and love Blue gets from his mother, Sha’Qura Martin, has been pivotal to his development, on and off the field.

“My mom is everything to me, that’s my right hand,” Blue said. “She’s been there every step of the way. She doesn’t cut any corners. I just love her, man. I don’t think I’d be here at all if it wasn’t for her. She sacrificed so much for me to be at this stage.”

Blue recently met with the Acres Home Bulldogs, counseling the youth football players about how to approach life and football.

“Man, just enjoy the moment, man,” Blue said. “Don’t take anything for granted, because you never know what will happen in the sport of football. The main thing I told them is to just have fun.

“Just have fun, enjoy it man and just love your teammates. You may not even play with them again. The main thing is just enjoying your teammates and enjoying the game and making sure that you have fun.”

This is an extremely proud moment for his mother.

“I haven’t missed a game, I was his team mom,” she said. “We share a lot. I’m very, very excited.”

“I’m surprised that he said he may cry,” Blue’s mother said. “I thought I would cry before him. Playing in the NFL, that’s where he’s at. I’m not surprised. Just have faith, keep God first and work hard. I’m not missing a game for nothing in the world.”

Now, the time is here and Blue is a Cowboy.

“This is something I really dreamed of,” Blue said. “I would have never known that I’d be here a few years ago. So, it’s a special moment. To have that NFL title next to my name, it means a lot. It just shows all the work I’ve put, since I was little, since I first started playing ball.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com