For Jylon Dade, football has always been more than just a game—it has been a journey built on determination, perseverance, and faith. A proud 2026 graduate of Richwood High School in Monroe, Louisiana, Dade has worked tirelessly to transform his childhood dreams into reality. His dedication has earned him a football scholarship to Louisiana Christian University in Pineville, Louisiana, where he will continue both his academic and athletic career.
Dade’s love for football began at the age of six or seven when he first started playing flag football. Looking back on those early years, he admits that success did not come easily. Unlike some young athletes who naturally stand out from the beginning, Jylon had to earn everything through hard work and persistence.
“I was one of those kids who wasn’t always the best,” Dade recalled. “Everything I’ve accomplished now has come through hard work. I wasn’t always the one who got picked first.”
Despite not being the strongest athlete on the field at first, Dade quickly discovered one quality that separated him from many others—his football intelligence. As a young player, he lined up at quarterback while also contributing on defense in the secondary. Although he enjoyed playing quarterback, his father, who coached him during his youth football years, recognized where his son’s greatest potential truly existed.
“My dad told me quarterbacks are usually born with natural arm strength and accuracy,” Dade explained. “I could read the field and I had a high football IQ, but I didn’t have the arm talent.”
Rather than becoming discouraged, Dade embraced the change. He transitioned to linebacker during youth tackle football, and everything immediately clicked. Reading offensive plays, making tackles, and reacting instinctively became second nature. What initially seemed like a difficult adjustment soon became the position where he could truly excel.
“Tackling was easy,” he said. “Reading plays was always easy. Once I switched to defense, it just fit.”
For nearly the last decade, defense has become Dade’s identity on the football field. His experience and understanding of the game continued to grow as he advanced through youth football and into high school.
As a freshman – his Junior years at Ouachita High School, Dade played inside linebacker before his coaches recognized another opportunity to maximize his athletic abilities. Beginning in his sophomore year, he transitioned to the Bandit Strong Safety position, where his speed, agility, and football instincts made him a valuable defensive weapon. Although he occasionally returned to inside linebacker when the team needed him, strong safety became his home throughout the remainder of his high school career.
While football has always been his first love, Dade also developed into a talented baseball player. His versatility allowed him to play several positions, including third base, shortstop, and all three outfield spots. He especially enjoyed tracking deep fly balls in the outfield.
“I’m good at playing outfield,” Dade said. “Tracking those long balls—that’s my specialty.”
When asked whether he preferred football or baseball, the answer wasn’t easy. He appreciates both sports but ultimately believes football is where he naturally belongs.
“I like them both, but football just comes naturally to me,” he said. “It’s in my bloodline. My aggressiveness and my football IQ make it the easiest sport for me.”
For Dade, football represents the highest level of competition, something he embraces every time he steps onto the field.
“I’m a competitor,” he said. “I love competing. The competition level is so high, and that’s what I love most about football.”
His years of commitment were rewarded when he received a scholarship offer from Louisiana Christian University. Signing to play college football marked the realization of a dream that had been growing since those early days of flag football.
“It was bittersweet,” Dade said. “It’s what I’ve dreamed about since I started playing football. Being the first one in my immediate family—my dad’s kids—to earn a football scholarship means everything to me.”
He also recognizes the challenges today’s high school athletes face. With the growing impact of the NCAA transfer portal, many college programs now recruit experienced college players rather than incoming freshmen. Dade understands just how meaningful his scholarship opportunity truly is.
“Getting recruited is harder now because colleges can get players from the transfer portal,” he explained. “For me to be one of the ones selected to receive a scholarship makes me feel different. I love the opportunity to play at the next level, and I’m going to do the same thing I did in high school—double down and keep grinding.”
Academically, Dade enjoys history, one of his favorite subjects within social studies. His curiosity about the past has always made the subject enjoyable in the classroom. Looking toward his future beyond football, he plans to major in nursing.
“I’ve always had a knack for helping people,” he said. “Nursing gives me the opportunity to show kindness and make a difference in people’s lives.”
He also appreciates the stability that comes with the healthcare profession.
“People are always going to need nurses,” Dade said. “You’ll always have a chance to help someone, and there will always be opportunities.”
Perhaps what stands out most about Jylon Dade isn’t simply his athletic ability but his character. His positive attitude, genuine kindness, and unwavering faith are qualities that everyone around him quickly notices.
“I love God,” he said with a smile. “You’ll rarely see me without a smile on my face. I know how to talk to people and get along with anybody. That’s just a gift God gave me.”
As he prepares to begin the next chapter of his life at Louisiana Christian University, Dade carries with him the same determination that has guided him since childhood. From a young athlete who wasn’t always considered the best to a scholarship football player with dreams of becoming a nurse, his story is one of resilience, faith, and hard work. With his competitive spirit, servant’s heart, and commitment to excellence, there is little doubt that Jylon Dade’s brightest days are still ahead.
