Jay Kazen

Boerne High School senior Jay Kazen has accepted a scholarship offer to play football at Texas State University in San Marcos. Texas State currently competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision, but is in the process of moving up to the Football Bowl Division.

Kazen formally committed to play for the Bobcats on Feb. 6, which was national signing day for football recruits. He is the first Greyhound football player to be offered and accept a college scholarship since the 2006 graduating class, which produced four college signees and one successful walk-on.

“We knew Jay had the talent to play at the next level and we’re happy he’ll get that chance,” Boerne Head Football Coach Danny Threadgill said. “We’re happy it’s Texas State so that we have the opportunity to watch him. We wish him a lot of luck.”

Jay’s parents, James and Tina Kazen, were equally pleased with their son’s decision.

“He’s been playing football since fourth grade,” James Kazen said. “He didn’t want to end his football playing days with his last high school game, so this is great.”

Kazen, who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 255 pounds, earned all-district honors at both tight end and noseguard his senior year. While Texas State coaches recruited him primarily as a defensive player, they were also intrigued by his ability to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball.

“They talked to me about playing defensive end, tight end and linebacker,” Jay said. “I may play some interior line too, and they also talked about fullback.”

“That’s what he’s done his whole football career,” James Kazen said. “He started off playing right guard, then nose tackle, right tackle and tight end. He was playing all those positions in some games at the same time. They told him on goal line situations they may put him in at fullback to take advantage of his hands and blocking, because he’s good at both. I think that’s what really sealed the deal for him.”

Jay drew interest and offers from Air Force, Army, and several Division II schools, and had seriously considered an invitation to walk on at Arkansas. Ironically, the Arkansas coaches influenced his decision to go with Texas State.

“The Arkansas coach told me Texas State is a sleeping giant,” Jay said. “Texas State contacted me last week and I took an official visit over the weekend. I had a nice visit and they offered me the scholarship on Sunday. It’s close to home and it’s big time football. The program is growing, I can come home to visit and my parents can see all my games, so it fits me pretty good.”

Kazen is a genuine student athlete who performed as well in the classroom as on the football field at Boerne. While he hasn’t settled on a major, he is considering anthropology, physics and astronomy.