Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) wide receiver Jayden Grimes is used to being overlooked.
The sophomore wide receiver was an under-recruited, undersized player at Greenville, NC’s J.H. Ruse High School. His team was the state champion and he was named the state championship offensive player of the game. Despite his high school success, he did not have an easy transition to Winston-Salem State University.
“I didn’t really go off until my senior year, so I was on the recruiting scene late,” Grimes told HBCU Gameday.
The 5’8 wide out was recruited to the program by former WSSU quarterback and offensive coordinator Kam Smith, who saw potential in him. Despite that potential, he didn’t see much action in 2023. A 14-yard touchdown catch against Johnson C. Smith was his lone grab of the season.
“That’s how it’s been has always been my whole life,” Grimes said of the sparse playing time. “I never really got the push. I always had to fight and crawl for my playing time. It was normal for me. It wasn’t anything abnormal. I just kept my head down and kept working.”
A year older and better, Grimes has been a key part of the WSSU attack in the first half of the season. He currently leads all receivers with 17 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown.
That total includes a 65 yard touchdown pass in Saturday’s 28-14 win over Bowie State. The 65 yard strike from fellow Class of 2023 prospect Daylin Lee was the longest in the career of both players.
“We had repped that a lot in practice, and by ourselves actually on the field, so we were really looking forward to that play. T-Mac (Christian MacDonald) really got across that corner’s face so when I turned that corner all I had to do was run and catch.”
The running game has been featured heavily this season, but Lee had a breakout three-touchdown game against BSU. Grimes says what happened in that game was just a glimpse of what the receiving corp. has to offer.
“I have supreme confidence in our receiving corps. And I feel if we keep throwing that ball down the field, we’re going to keep making plays,” Grimes said. “We’re just real deep. We have a lot of talent and ability in that room.”
WSSU is set to take on long-time CIAA rival Virginia Union on Saturday in Richmond.
– Tia Greene