Georgia Southern University Athletics

2023-24: Played in 10 games … Saw action on 184 plays (173 offense, 11 special teams) … Caught 16 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown … Had a 6-yard catch and a 4-yard punt return in the opener against The Citadel … Played 15 snaps at Wisconsin and briefly at the end of the game at Ball State … Had five catches for 40 yards at James Madison … Had two catches for 28 yards in the win over ULM … Had an 8-yard catch in the win over Georgia State … Had six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown at Marshall … Had a 5-yard catch against Old Dominion … Played one offensive snap against Ohio in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

2022-23: Played in eight games for the Panthers … Had three catches for 19 yards … Had two catches against Tennessee, including a 17-yarder … Entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in December … Transferred to Georgia Southern in January. 

2021-22: Played in the initial eight games, contributing as a reserve wide receiver and return specialist, before missing the balance of the season due to injury … Averaged a team-high 19.3 yards per catch (nine catches for 174 yards) with two touchdowns … Had nine punt returns for 90 yards (10.0 avg.) and six kickoff returns for 117 yards (19.5 avg.) … Had a season-high 60 receiving yards (on two catches) with a 22-yard TD catch against Western Michigan … Had a season-high three catches (for 33 yards) against New Hampshire … Had a 19-yard scoring reception against Miami … Had a career-long 47-yard kickoff return against Massachusetts … Had a career-long 32-yard punt return against Miami.

2020-21: Played in nine games, starting two … Starting assignments came in the opening two contests of the season (Austin Peay and Syracuse) … Totaled seven catches for 140 yards (20.0 avg.) and a touchdown on the year … Had a career-long 68-yard reception in his collegiate debut against Austin Peay … Had a career-high five catches (for 65 yards) against Virginia Tech, including an 11-yard touchdown.

HIGH SCHOOL: Prolific wideout who was selected first-team All-Georgia Class AAA after averaging 112.2 receiving yards per game as a senior … Compiled 68 receptions for 1,234 yards (18.1 avg.) and 15 touchdowns, earning Georgia 3-AAA All-Region Player of the Year … Over four varsity seasons, totaled 149 catches for 2,760 yards (18.5 avg.) and 25 TDs … Rated one of the top 30 overall prospects in Georgia by 247Sports … Played under Coach Sheddrick Risper.

PERSONAL: Born Jaylon Tyae’ Barden on February 15 … Son of Takenya Waters and Jeffery Barden. 

MAJOR: Interdisciplinary Studies