By David Shaw
For the Salisbury Post

SALISBURY — It’s not easy to get Salisbury football coach Clayton Trivett’s attention, but Jaden Warren did so in a big way this season.

The senior defensive end was impossible to ignore, and just as difficult to contain, after shuffling from free safety to the D-line a year ago. In 2023, he blew past all expectations and led the entire state with 20 sacks — all while ornamenting his season with 60 tackles, 50 quarterback hurries, 17.5 tackles for a loss and six fumble recoveries. For his diligent work and endless thirst to improve, he’s been named Rowan County’s co-Defensive Player of the Year.

“He was a breakout player for us,” said Trivett, the second-year coach who steered the 12-1 Hornets into Round 3 of the 2A state playoffs. “We didn’t expect this. But we’ve always seen how hard he works and sensed that good things were going to happen. His get-off, his quick hands and his athleticism made him perfect for that position.”

Warren was simply good for goodness sake. A West Rowan transfer, he arrived on Lincolnton Road as a 160-pound junior and quickly ran into obstacles. Salisbury already had plenty of disruptive DBs who could lay the lumber and enough skilled offensive linchpins to average nearly 45 points-per-game.

“I didn’t really fit in,” said Warren, now a chiseled 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. “I didn’t have a position. When I first got here I was hoping to play receiver, but realized kind of fast that wasn’t going to work out. Still, I knew I could contribute somewhere.”

That’s when Trivett, a former offensive lineman for Thomasville High School and Catawba College, took notice. He spoke with defensive coordinator Wesley Jackson about the pros and cons of installing the undersized Warren on Salisbury’s defensive line.

“It was actually Coach Jackson who suggested we try him at DE,” Trivett explained. “That was like Week 3 last season. Then in his very first game he got a sack, which didn’t surprise me. He ended up getting a few reps and doing very well. When the season ended, we all knew he needed to get in the weight room if he wanted to play defensive end and be successful.”

A season later, bolstered with enough strength to squat 500 pounds and bench 280, he came to camp with an infectious energy and a renewed appetite for disorder. In the season opener against North Davidson, he routinely bent around the edges and mauled his way for two-and-a-half sacks. “That made me excited,” he recalled. “First game of the year and I knew right then I’d have many more.”

Week 2 at Walkertown saw Warren block a punt, recover the ball and return it 15 yards for his first varsity touchdown. A week later, Salisbury’s defense recorded nine TFLs in a lopsided win against East Rowan. By Oct. 27 the Hornets were 10-0 and Central Carolina Conference champions, courtesy of their 55-14 wipeout of visiting North Rowan. Included in that rout was another stellar performance from Warren — three sacks, seven QB hurries and three tackles for loss.

“If you’re an opposing coach and you cut on the film, you see a kid with this tremendous get-off,” said Trivett. “He is so fast around the edge. He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop, always getting after the ball. I played offensive line my whole life and I can tell you, this a guy that causes mismatch problems.”

That’s something Warren did on a weekly basis until a season-ending, 38-21 loss to Shelby in the third round of the playoffs. The visiting Lions did what no other team had done — harness Salisbury on both sides of the ball. The Hornets surrendered five touchdowns and were out-gained 518-365 in total yards. Meanwhile Warren, the CCC’s Lineman of the Year, was limited to three tackles and one final sack.

“We came out fired up and were playing pretty good in the first half,” he offered. “I don’t know what happened after that. Just too many mistakes. Walking off the field, I was crying because our season was over and it was the last time I’d be playing with this team.”

Nearly a month later, the sting has softened but Warren’s reputation has multiplied. Armed with a 4.0 GPA, he’s already completed high school and received football offers from nine college programs — including Division I Wagner, D2 Fairmont State and nearby Livingstone.

“I’d really like to play at the Division I level,” Warren said with a hopeful look in his eyes. “And I’d like to move away from home. I mean, it’s not bad here, but it kind of gets old and boring. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but I want something different. For three years I didn’t know if I’d even get to play in college or have to go JUCO. But this school, and playing for this team, has given me another opportunity.”

Now that Jaden Warren has gotten our full attention, his future promises to be new, different and exciting.