1990 Bobby Dodd National Lineman of the Year
Jason Layman, Sevier County High School (Sevierville, TN) OT/DT 6’6” 280 lbs.
Sevierville, Tennessee, is accustomed to seeing its native sons and daughters achieve stardom. It’s the birthplace of singing star Dolly Parton and home to her “Dollywood” amusement park.
In fact, Jason Layman played his out-standing high school career at Sevier County High School, which is located in Sevierville, appropriately enough, on Dolly Parton Parkway.
Many in Sevierville now are predicting football stardom for Layman, a 6-6, 280-pound lineman who still is only 17 years old.
Layman anchored Sevier County teams that reached the playoffs all three years of his varsity football career. In those three years, Layman amassed 187 solo tackles, 89 assists and 11 quarterback sacks. On 49 occasions, he sacked a running back for a loss.
Those predicting stardom are probably even more influenced by some other numbers, such as Layman’s size and height, his ability to run a 4.8 40-yard-dash, his intelligence (a 3.75 GPA and an ACT score of 29), his 29-inch vertical jump-ing ability, and his ability to bench press almost 400 pounds and squat press almost 600.
“Jason is a tremendous football player in a lot of ways,” says Sevier County Head Coach Mike Biddix. “He is extremely quick and flex-ible. With his intelligence, he reads offensive line blocking so well that it give him a great ad-vantage over the offensive lineman. He knows where the ball is going, run or pass, and can make the play.
“Jason has worked very hard in the weight room, on the practice field and in the classroom to make himself a great student-athlete,” Biddix continued. “He is very competitive in the class-room and on the football field. He hates to be second in either grades or athletics.”
Layman has already drawn national attention, both from those giving out awards and from college recruiters representing virtually every major college in the nation. He plans to play a few miles up the road at the University of Tennessee.
He’s considered the top football prospect in Tennessee; some consider him to be the best lineman prospect in the nation. Dolly Patton put Sevierville on the map; Layman promises to keep it there.
Statistics:
46 solo tackles and 14 assists
5 sacks and 15 TFLs
Names All-American by USA TODAY and Parade Magazine