Student-Athlete Features
VUCommodores.com — The Making of Mahoney
VUCommodores.com — Mahoney Looks Towards Season 5
As a Graduate (2023)
• Team captain
• Honorable mention All-SEC (College Football Network)
• SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Started 11 of 11 games played
• Tied for fourth in program history with 17 career pass break-ups
• Led the team with six pass break-ups during the 2023 season
• Second on the team with 59 tackles
• Fifth among SEC safeties in Pro Football Focus run defense grade (80.8)
• Made five tackles at South Carolina, his fifth game this season with at least five tackles
• Named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in the game versus Georgia
• Made a career best 16 tackles (10 solo) versus Georgia, which is the most tackles by an SEC player in a game this season and the most by a Commodore since 2019
• Recorded eight tackles in the game versus Missouri
• Represented team at 2023 SEC Media Days
• Senior Bowl Watch List
• Named to preseason Shrine Bowl 1000
As a Senior (2022)
• Team captain
• Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Played in 11 games
• Made 55 tackles, 7.0 for loss
• Recorded an interception in win over Florida
• Made a career-best 12 tackles at Missouri
As a Junior (2021)
• Started all 12 games
• Third on the team with 53 total tackles
• Four sacks were second on the team
• Two interceptions on the year, one at Colorado State and one versus Mississippi State
• Two tackles for loss in win over UConn
As a Sophomore (2020)
• SEC Academic Honor Roll
• Started all eight games played
• 57 tackles, second-highest total on the team, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery
• Within the SEC, 17th in tackles/game (7.1)
• Eight or more tackles five times
• Second career fumble recovery at No. 10 Texas A&M
• Year-high 10 tackles with a personal-best two for loss against South Carolina
• Nine stops in the matchup with Ole Miss
• Tied season high with 10 stops at Mississippi State
• Eight tackles against Tennessee
As a Freshman (2019)
• 12 games played with four starts, against South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee
• One of five true freshmen to see action
• 23 tackles (10 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and two passes broken up
• Interception at Tennessee
• Five tackles against South Carolina
• Three stops against Georgia, Missouri, Florida and Kentucky
• 10-yard tackle for loss versus LSU
The Mahoney File
• Prepped at South Pointe (S.C.)
• Three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports
• 150 tackles, 35 passes defended and 10 interceptions during prep career
• 42 solo tackles and four interceptions as a senior
• Led team to 10-2 record in 2018
• Led team to 15-0 record and 4A state title in 2017
• 2018 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game
• Two-time all-region
• Full name is Jaylen Elijah Mahoney
• Born in Rock Hill, S.C.
• Son of Ronald and Kim Mahoney
• Two brothers (Jordan and Maliek) and four sisters (Jariana, Breyana, Shana and Mya)
• Brother Jordan plays football for the University of Massachusetts
• National Honor Society member
• Majored in human and organizational development and completed a graduate degree in learning, diversity and urban studies