By Brian Argabright
Once Jaden Talamantez knew he wanted to take his game to the next level, the Rams senior didn’t let a little thing like a pandemic keep from achieving his dreams.
The Del Rio Rams defensive lineman recently signed a letter of intent to play football for the Tyler Junior College Apaches. He plans to attend the school for two years and then transfer to an NCAA Division I school and finish his schooling there.
“I wanted to go to Tyler because that coaching staff develops a lot of players for D-I schools and I know I can get to that level,” Talamantez said Thursday.
Football isn’t his only passion. Talamantez said he’d like to study criminal justice and go into the US Border Patrol or become a coach at some level.
“I like helping kids and I’d like to help make a positive impact on kids’ lives. I worked with the Ready, Set, Teach program in school with Mrs. (Linda) Corbell and really enjoyed that,” Talamantez said.
Talamantez had a standout senior year for the Rams. Aside from helping lead the Rams back to the playoffs, he was named the District 30-6A Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman and was voted by KWMC listeners as the radio station’s inaugural defensive player of the year and team MVP.
“Personally, coming out of my junior season, earning those awards meant a lot. It was really amazing to see the outcome of what I put in, put in. It really felt good and is something I will never forget. It really shows that if you want something, you can go get it. Don’t wait for it to come to you,” Talamantez said.
The 6’ 5” standout said it was a disappointing junior year that motivated him to go all out in his final year of high school football.
“The way I was playing my junior season didn’t result in any offers, so I knew I had to do something different. I took advantage of my time in the offseason and put in the extra work. Working out during quarantine got a little hard, but the coaches gave us sandbags and urged us to keep working hard,” Talamantez said. “When my senior year came, I played with a chip on my shoulder and that really helped me excel. I can honestly say I left everything on the field.”
Talamantez also spent his offseason working with personal trainer Tyrome Dabney. Dabney worked with Talamantez and other Rams players and credited Talamantez as his first client to sign with a collegiate program.
“I work better with someone that pushed me and he knew I could go beyond my limits. It really helped me to have someone pushing me and he really made an impact on my career. He stepped up my game and developed me into a better player,” Talamantez said.
Flanked by his parents Maria and Christopher Talamantez and his little sister Harley Ortega, Talamantez’s signing ceremony was brief and his words to the public following the ceremony were brief as well, but since then he’s had a chance to reflect on what his senior year, and his high school football career, has meant to him.
“This senior year would have been nothing without my teammates. Every practice … they made it fun and enjoyable. I wish we could have had a normal senior year with pep rallies and homecoming activities and all that, but the seniors on the team … we all got to enjoy our senior year. Yes it was not the same because of COVID, but we were the first football seniors to experience it and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“I want to thank my parents because they made me into the man and the player I am today. I also want to thank Luis Perez. He helped make me who I am. He pushed me on the field and off the field and helped me with my grades. Ramon Gonzalez was also there for me. He always gave me advice when I needed it. And finally my coaches like Coach (Nick) Mendez, (Wayne) Schroeter, (Al) Soto and (Roderick) Taylor … they all helped me and developed me into the player I am today and I’ll never forget that,” Talamantez said.
Talamantez’s career began in third grade with the youth football Cowboys. After the last six years as a Ram he will soon begin his next phase as an Apache. He’s already finding out what he’ll need to be ready for once he gets to college.
“The coaches up there sent me information on a diet program and they sent me their strength and conditioning program. My position coach gave me some advice as well to better my skills at the end position. My coaches also advised me to spend as much time with my family as I can because where I’m going is seven hours away,” Talamantez said.
