Jaden McKenzie

Position:
Defensive Line
Height:
6-4
Weight:
290
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Wake Forest
High School:
Wake Forest
Prev School:
Ohio State
Major:
University Studies

Career Notes: Three-year letterman (1/East Carolina, 2/Ohio State) … Appeared in 35 career games (13/ECU, 22/OSU) … Booked 37 tackles (12 solo) with 3.0 TFLs (-9 yards) which included a half sack (-2 yards) … Credited with a forced fumble (2021) and an interception (2024) with no return … Registered at least one tackle in 22 of 35 contests (multiple 10 times).

2024: Played in 13 games for the Pirates earning third career varsity letter … Logged 294 total snaps (276 defense, 18 special teams) … Registered 17 tackles (four solo) … Credited with a half sack (-2 yards) against Old Dominion … Picked off lone career pass against Temple (no return) … Registered one tackle (solo) in Go Bowling Military Bowl against NC State … Booked at least one tackle in 10 of 13 contests (multiple five times) … Recorded season-high three tackled on two occasions (Appalachian State, UTSA) … Member of a defensive unit that stood among the NCAA FBS leaders in red zone defense (13th/74.5 pct), tackles for loss (14th/7.2 pg), turnovers gained (27th/22) and 4th down conversion percentage defense (29th/45.7 percent) … One of 22 players to receive the Captain’s Award … Named gameday captain against Florida Atlantic.

2023 (Ohio State): Appeared in nine games (no starts) earning second letter with the program … Tallied 10 tackles (four solo) with 1.5 TFLs (-6 yards) … Booked multiple stops against Indiana (2), Youngstown Stat (2) and Western Kentucky (2) … Credited with TFLs versus Indiana (0.5/-3 yards) and Western Kentucky (1.0/-3 yards).

2022 (Ohio State): Played in seven games recording five tackles (two solo) earning first letter … Registered first career TFL against Toledo (-1 yard) … Tallied at least one tackle in three games (multiple once) … Booked season-high three tackles (one solo) against Toledo … Also had stops against Wisconsin and Michigan State.

2021 (Ohio State): Experienced action in three games during third year with the program … Tallied five tackles (two solo) … Booked season-best four stops at Rutgers (one solo) with forced fumble … Registered solo stop against Akron in his first game of the year.

2020 (Ohio State): Made one appearance coming against Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game … Did not record any stats.

2019 (Ohio State): Played in two games during true freshman season but did not record any stats … Made collegiate debut against Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 21 … Also played in a reserve role against Maryland on Nov. 9.

High School: A three-star prospect who was a key contributor in helping Wake Forest High School win three consecutive 4A state championships … Rated as the No. 48 defensive tackle prospect in the nation and the No. 32 player in North Carolina by 247Sports … Recorded 71 tackles and 10.5 sacks as a senior … Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, an annual all-star game between players from North Carolina and South Carolina … Finished his high school career on a 45-game winning streak … Four-year varsity letterwinner … As a junior, compiled 97 tackles, 23 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks … Totaled 28.5 sacks over his final three seasons.

Personal: Son of Quandra McKenzie … Originally from New Orleans, family moved to North Carolina after Hurricane Katrina when Jaden was five years old … Mid-year transfer from Ohio State who enrolled at East Carolina in January of 2024 … Three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete (2020-22) and two-time All-Big Ten Academic