Why this Harlem football player drew little notice and why he picked Oklahoma State

It sounded too good to be true.

But it is definitely true.

Jordan Vyborny, a tight end who caught only 13 passes for 166 yards his junior year at Harlem, became an overnight NCAA Division I recruit after moving to Utah to live with his uncle and enrolling at Corner Canyon, which has won three of the last five Utah Class 6A state titles and played in the state championship game five years in a row.

Vyborny hasn’t played a game there yet. The season is still two months off. But he has committed to play for Oklahoma State — even before attending his first practice at Corner Canyon.

“I am surrounded by a ton of talent,” Vyborny said during a recent visit back to Rockford. “It’s not only me they are looking at recruiting-wise. Everyone here is going to want to show themselves and represent.”

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Before picking Oklahoma State, Vyborny also took official visits to Eastern Washington and Boise State and unofficial visits to USC and UCLA.

While the tight end is an integral part of the NFL passing game — some announcers like to joke “the tight end is always open” — it is less so in high school and college football.

“There are a few colleges that are known for it,” Vyborny said. “Michigan dumps it to their tight ends a lot. Utah does it, too. Iowa State, believe it or not, does too. Oklahoma State is starting to change it up a little bit. The tight end is going to be more of a focal point and catch a lot more balls. It will play a huge role in their offense. They are moving to more 12 personnel (two tight ends, one running back).”

Vyborny may be the NIC-10’s biggest recruit since Auburn offensive tackle Vederian Lowe, now with the Patriots, went to Illinois in 2017. Vyborny is also the league’s first D-I recruit who didn’t make all-conference in the NIC-10 since Auburn’s Ray Robey, a starting defensive tackle on Northwestern’s fabled 1995 Rose Bowl team.

But Robey’s omission was highly controversial. His coach reportedly missed the all-conference meeting and no one nominated him. Vyborny was different. He basically went unnoticed. Until he left Rockford. Then, he was immediately discovered at a 7-on-7 tournament in Las Vegas, catching passes from four-star recruit Helaman Casuga.

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Scouts immediately fell in love with not only Vyborny’s hands, but also his measureables — 6-foot-5, 232 pounds and 4.68 speed in the 40-yard dash. He was quickly labeled a three-star recruit.

He also had the athletic pedigree. Vyborny’s sister, Mya Davidson, a 6-2 guard/forward, landed an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship. His grandfather and great uncle, Jerome and Julian Vyborny, were Boylan grads who played football for the Illini. He had six aunts play basketball in college.

Vyborny will join a team that finished 10-4 last year and is 10-4 in bowl games the last 14 years under 19-year coach Mike Gundy.

“The environment, the coaches, everything about the program, I fell in love with,” Vyborny said. “The way I was treated. And not just me; also my uncle and my mom.

“I know I will be developed there. And Coach Gundy made it clear he is not looking for just talent, he is looking for leaders in the community. He is awesome. I love him.”

And he is eager to show off skills he never got to showcase in Rockford. And see how far that can take him.

“I want to show how explosive I am now,” Vyborny said. “How much faster I’v gotten. How much better at route running. I am expected to be more physical and show that on tape.”