Ja'Deion High

Ja'Deion High
No. 88
PositionWide receiver
Personal information
BornHereford, Texas, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolHereford (Hereford, Texas)
CollegeTexas Tech (2013–2018)
NFL draft2019: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Ja'Deion High
Medal record
Men's flag football
Representing  United States
IFAF World Championship
Gold medal – first place2024 LahtiTeam
IFAF Americas Continental Championship
Gold medal – first place2025 PenonoméTeam

Ja'Deion Thearry High is an American flag football player who represents the United States men's national flag football team. He previously played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. High won a gold medal with the U.S. national team at the 2024 IFAF Men's Flag Football World Championship.

Early life

High was born in Hereford, Texas, to Elva and J.D. High. He has five siblings.[1] His given name was a combination of his father's initials (short for John David) and Deion Sanders's first name.[2] High grew up on a ranch, which he helped tend to until departing for college. "My jobs included taking care of the animals, feeding, cleaning stalls, building fences and barns and tending to the fields so the livestock could graze," he recalled. The ranch included pigs, goats, sheep, and occasionally, horses, cows, and chickens.[2]

High attended Hereford High School in Hereford, Texas, where he played on the school's football team. As a senior, he tallied 60 receptions for 860 yards with eight touchdowns,[1] earning first team All-District 4-4A honors at both wide receiver and defensive back.[3] High was also a standout baseball player at Hereford, garnering first-team All-District 4-4A honors as a senior,[1] in addition to playing basketball.[4]

High was a zero-star recruit, according to 247Sports.[5] He did not receive any NCAA Division I scholarship offers to play college football.[6]

College career

He's the versatile, jack of all trades, Swiss army knife, if you will. If we need somebody anywhere, he can go.

— Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury on High's versatility at wide receiver[7]

High enrolled at Texas Tech University and joined the football team, the Red Raiders, as a preferred walk-on.[8] He took a redshirt season as a freshman in 2013.[1] High then appeared in four games in 2014, mainly in a special teams role.[1] In 2015, he played in nine games and made five starts, tallying eight receptions for 111 yards.[1] High also recovered crucial onside kicks to secure consecutive victories over Kansas State and Texas.[1][9][10] He was awarded a scholarship by Texas Tech the following offseason, during 2016 fall camp.[11]

In 2016, High played in the first three games before suffering a season-ending injury, which forced him to undergo surgery on his right foot.[1][7] He finished the year with six catches for 54 yards and one touchdown.[1] Following his return from injury, High played in all 13 games in 2017 as a key reserve behind four future NFL receivers; he recorded seven catches for 58 yards.[1][11] He was named the Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after he blocked a punt to set up a key touchdown in a 52–45 win over Arizona State.[12][13] High was granted a sixth season of eligibility for the 2018 season.[14] In his final collegiate season, he played 12 games and made nine starts, racking up 62 receptions for 804 yards and four touchdowns as the Red Raiders' second-leading receiver.[1] His longest play was a 62-yard touchdown catch on a pass from Jett Duffey in a 17–14 win over TCU.[1][15] High was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the best player who started out as a walk-on.[11][16]

High finished his collegiate career with 83 receptions for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns in 40 games played.[17] He subsequently received an invite to the Arizona Cardinals mini camp.[18]

Flag football career

After ending his tackle football career, High began playing flag football, a sport his father previously played. "It was a way to remain competitive and a reason to travel to places I hadn't been before," he said.[2] While learning the sport, High was initially surprised at defenders pulling his flag despite him using his best juke moves; he eventually learned the "unique hip dips and flips" needed to avoid his flag being pulled.[19]

In March 2024, High was invited to a U.S. men's national team training camp in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was one of 18 players selected to compete for a spot on Team USA's roster for the 2024 IFAF Men's Flag Football World Championship.[20][21] Based on his performance at the camp, which took place in late May and early June, he was named to the final 12-man roster.[17][22] High posted 509 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns across seven games at the 2024 World Championship in Finland. In the final, he had three catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns in a 53–21 win over Austria at Lahti Stadium, helping the U.S. capture its fifth consecutive gold medal.[23]

In June 2025, High competed at the USA Football Summer Series.[19] He was also named to the final 12-man roster for the 2025 IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship.[24] High caught two touchdowns in a 32–12 semifinal win over Panama. However, the gold medal game against Mexico was cancelled due to inclement weather and both teams were named co-champions.[25]

In February 2026, High played in the USA vs. Mexico Flag Football Showcase, an exhibition game against Mexico held in San Francisco as a part of the Super Bowl Experience ahead of Super Bowl LX. He led all receivers with five receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns in a 35–34 win.[26] The following month, High represented Team USA in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic against current and former NFL players. He had a tournament-high four touchdown receptions as Team USA won all three games en route to the title.[27]

Personal life

High graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in kinesiology.[1][8] His uncle, Wayne High, was the star running back on Hereford High's state semifinal team in 1981.[28]

As of 2025, High was working as an 18-wheeler truck driver in the Lubbock area, using his paid time off to represent the U.S. national team.[29]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Ja'Deion High - Football". Texas Tech Red Raiders. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "2025 US Flag National Team Media Guide | Ja'Deion High" (PDF). USA Football. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  3. ↑ Marquez, Homer (December 11, 2012). "All-district football list gets Dog-piled". Plainview Herald. pp. 6A, 7A – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Odessa High 62, Hereford 60". Odessa American. December 9, 2011. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Ja'Deion High". 247Sports. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  6. ↑ Jordan, Preston (September 8, 2018). "Zach Austin & Ja'Deion High Reflect On Their Time At Texas Tech". Texas Tech Red Raiders. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Williams, Don (August 17, 2017). "High on football life: Injured receiver glad to be back after year out". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Johnson, Jarret (July 16, 2018). "Ja'Deion High's Journey from Hereford Ranch to the Big 12". InsideTheRedRaiders. 247Sports. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  9. ↑ Williams, Don; Silva, Carlos Jr. (November 16, 2015). "Tech notes: Clark surpasses usual high standards, line coach says". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  10. ↑ Williams, Don (November 26, 2015). "Williams: Texas Tech's imperfect season could still have a perfect ending". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "High Named a Burlsworth Nominee". Texas Tech Red Raiders. October 30, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  12. ↑ Talbot, Nicholas (September 17, 2017). "Texas Tech notebook: High comes up with big punt block". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  13. ↑ "High Named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week". Texas Tech Red Raiders. September 18, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ Williams, Don (January 25, 2018). "Tech receiver Ja'Deion High awarded sixth year of eligibility". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ Williams, Don (October 11, 2018). "Defense, Duffey get it done in Cowtown". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  16. ↑ Burrell, Morgan (November 4, 2018). "Ja'Deion High, former Hereford football player, nominated for 2018 Burlsworth Trophy". ABC 7 Amarillo. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  17. 1 2 Giese, Nathan (June 3, 2024). "Former Texas Tech football WR Ja'Deion High named to U.S. national flag football team". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  18. ↑ Breaux, Rob (May 7, 2019). "Former Texas Tech Red Raider Ja'Deion High Joins the Arizona Cardinals Family". KKAM. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Nguyen, Thuc Nhi (June 23, 2025). "U.S. flag football players want to end the 'us vs. them' narrative with NFL". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  20. ↑ Watkins, Matthew (March 13, 2024). "Ex-Texas Tech receiver, Hereford native, eyes spot on US Flag Football National Team". ABC 7 Amarillo. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  21. ↑ Robinson, Rylee (March 14, 2024). "Former Hereford Whiteface & Texas Tech WR looking to make USA Football's Men's Flag National Team 12-athlete roster". NewsChannel 10. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  22. ↑ Robinson, Rylee (June 10, 2024). "Hereford native & former Texas Tech WR named to USA Flag Football Team". NewsChannel 10. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  23. ↑ Watkins, Matthew (August 30, 2024). "Hereford native helps lead US men's flag football team to 5th straight championship". ABC 7 Amarillo. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  24. ↑ "USA FOOTBALL SELECTS FINAL ROSTERS FOR 2025 U.S. MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FLAG FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAMS". USA Football. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  25. ↑ "TEAM USA FOOTBALL'S MEN'S TEAM DECLARED CO-CHAMPIONS IN WEATHER-IMPACTED IFAF AMERICAS CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP; WOMEN'S TEAM CLAIMS BRONZE". USA Football. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  26. ↑ "USA Edges Mexico In 35-34 Thriller in The Bay". International Federation of American Football. February 6, 2026. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  27. ↑ Graham, Tim; Tafur, Vic (March 21, 2026). "Team USA flag football squad trounces 2 teams of NFL stars". The Athletic. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  28. ↑ Williams, Don (September 24, 2015). "Williams column: Memo to ADs: We could use more Tech, Hogs". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  29. ↑ Graham, Tim (November 12, 2025). "They built a U.S. flag football juggernaut. Should NFL players take their Olympic spots?". The Athletic. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
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