Rivals expects Jayden Wayne tested more with IMG Academy

Miami football commit, edge rusher Jayden Wayne transferred from his hometown of Tacoma, Washington to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for his senior year of high school this fall. With IMG, Jayden Wayne will have greater instruction on a daily basis and more competition from IMG opponents.

One of the “Five thoughts on the 2023 DE class” by Rivals.Com National Recruiting Director Adam Gorney stated that “We will learn more about (Jayden) Wayne” through his transfer to IMG. Wayne is rated the 13th best player nationally, the top player in Washington and the second-best strongside defensive end by Rivals for 2023.

Wayne had 44 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks for Tacoma Lincoln in 2021. At IMG, Wayne will focus on defense. As a junior at Lincoln, last season Wayne also had 18 receptions for 269 yards and five touchdowns. Wayne is 6’4, 245 pounds with the potential to fill out to 270 per Chris Singletary of 247 Sports.

Singletary projects Wayne as a future NFL second-round draft pick. Wayne will have a chance to showcase his elite ability at IMG before matriculating at Miami. Miami will have three top 15 pass rushers in the 2022 and 2023 classes combined. Miami signed top 15 edge rushers Nyjalik Kelly and Cyrus Moss in the Class of 2022.

"We will learn more about (Jayden) Wayne“Jayden Wayne is one of the best-looking prospects in the 2023 class and he has dominated in the state of Washington and looked good playing tight end during the 7-on-7 circuit.But the five-star has not attended a lot of elite camps where he’s played defensive end and so now transferring to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, we will get a much-better look at Wayne as an elite prospect.That could mean he moves to No. 1 at strongside defensive end, stays right where he is at No. 2 or moves down depending on his performance and projection to college and where we think he will go in the NFL Draft.The new Miami commit has a lot of special abilities but now playing a national schedule on arguably the best team in the country will give us more insight into all his abilities. Either way, Wayne is a special prospect with tons of unique talents.”"

Wayne will play with his future Miami teammates, offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and tight end Riley Williams at IMG. The Miami football program and Mario Cristobal are building a pipeline to IMG. In addition to Mauigoa, Wayne and Williams, Miami signed TE Jaleel Skinner from IMG in the Class of 2022.

The further instruction and competition against more players with his ability in games at IMG should help Wayne develop quicker than he would have staying in Tacoma. Wayne is the highest-ranked player committed to Miami for 2023 according to the Rivals rankings. Miami has three commits in the top 30 from Rivals for 2023.