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FORT PIERCE — Fully healthy from a major knee injury, Jaydien Pittman is on the cusp of playing his first regular-season high school football game in 21 months.
Not every athlete suffers a devastating setback in the middle of a promising prep career and believes it was for the best. Yet Pittman has maintained a reflective, selfless and spiritual perspective throughout his journey back.
The speedy John Carroll Catholic High running back is set to begin his senior season on the gridiron after missing his entire junior season due to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. The Rams play host to St. Lucie West Centennial for a preseason Kickoff Classic game on Aug. 13 before officially kicking off the regular season eight days later against Bishop Verot at McGuire Football Stadium.
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Pittman’s injury prematurely ended his sophomore campaign, occurring on Nov. 15, 2024, during the Rams’ playoff game against Dillard. During that season, he led the team in receiving with 444 yards and was ranked second among skill-position players in total touchdowns (11).
Now a senior, Pittman will look to regain his previous form while rejoining his fellow Rams on the field.
“I just take it as a blessing to be back and just play with my teammates for my last year,” he said. “I don't look at it as a bad thing that I missed my last season because some people who wanted to play got opportunities. I wasn't really mad that I didn't get to play. I got to watch my teammates be happy and see the success that they can have without me.”
John Carroll produced an 8-3 record and reached the regional quarterfinals in 2025.
Pittman went down while returning a kickoff during the first quarter against the Panthers and didn't get back up until help arrived to guide him to the sidelines.
Thanks to his adrenaline, the running back still thought he could return to the game. He was able to walk, but when his knee gave out as soon as he tried to run again, that’s when he realized his night was over.
“I just thought I could keep playing,” Pittman recalled. “I wanted to keep playing, but I had to just think about it and think about how many more injuries could have happened. ... I couldn't play, but I couldn't get in the way of what God wanted for me.”
Pittman didn’t know the extent of his injury until the following spring.
The next morning after the game, he had knee stiffness and couldn’t fully extend his leg. Following X-rays soon thereafter, Pittman was advised to do physical therapy. However, still feeling pain, he had his first MRI in March 2025, when the tear was discovered. Pittman had surgery on April 15, 2025, exactly five months to the day after he suffered the injury.
He rehabbed throughout the following summer at the BARWIS Performance Center on Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce. The work was grueling and constant as he labored toward strengthening his knee. But as times got tough, Pittman turned to his faith.
“I think going through the injury, it was a time where I just needed to slow down and focus on God,” he said. “Through rehab, focusing on God made me build the attitude that I have now, where I was able to see the light in the dark incident that happened. I got to see who God is, what he wants me to do and who he wants me to be. ... I grew my relationship with God, and my faith in him got closer and deeper.”
In addition to his work at BARWIS, Pittman remained a presence inside the Rams’ facilities. As a result, the senior has put more bulk on his 5-foot-8 frame.
“Injuries are tough on any high school athlete, especially ACLs, when they know they’ll be out for a while. And sometimes we've had kids here who kind of disappear for a little bit. They'll do minimal work, or they'll do their treatment with our trainer. But (Pittman) was a guy, even fresh out of surgery, that was in our training room and the weight room right away, doing the things he was able to do upper-body-wise,” John Carroll head football coach Mickey Groody said. “The recruits that have been around to see him can see that he has gotten so much physically stronger. ... I think that just shows his work ethic, coming back stronger and ready for whatever this season brings.”
With his health improving, Pittman had a small window to suit up at the end of last season but opted against rushing back. He ultimately made his athletic return first with the John Carroll boys track and field team, where he emerged as one of the top sprinters in Florida. Pittman captured district and regional titles in the 100-meter dash before finishing eighth in the event at the Class 1A state meet.
The running back eventually returned to the football field, playing in the Rams’ spring games against Fort Pierce Central and South Fork. Pittman was reluctant to try any massive jukes or moves considering the stakes in the spring, but he said that will change now that his senior season has arrived.
“I just didn’t want to do anything crazy during the spring,” he said. “But when the fall comes, I’ll be active and ready to go.”
Pittman currently holds an offer from FIU.
8/13 - vs. St. Lucie West Centennial, 6 p.m. (Kickoff Classic)
8/21 - vs. Bishop Verot, 7 p.m.
8/28 - at Glades Central, 7 p.m.
9/4 - at Cardinal Newman, 7 p.m.
9/11 - vs. Somerset Prep, 7 p.m.
9/18 - Bye
9/25 - at Pahokee, 6:30 p.m.
10/2 - vs. Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, 7 p.m.
10/9 - at True North Classical Academy, 7 p.m.
10/17 - vs. Treasure Coast
10/23 - at Benjamin, 7 p.m.
10/30 - vs. Spruce Creek, 7 p.m.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: John Carroll’s Jaydien Pittman returns stronger after ACL injury
Continue reading...
Not every athlete suffers a devastating setback in the middle of a promising prep career and believes it was for the best. Yet Pittman has maintained a reflective, selfless and spiritual perspective throughout his journey back.
The speedy John Carroll Catholic High running back is set to begin his senior season on the gridiron after missing his entire junior season due to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. The Rams play host to St. Lucie West Centennial for a preseason Kickoff Classic game on Aug. 13 before officially kicking off the regular season eight days later against Bishop Verot at McGuire Football Stadium.
More: Martin County banking on culture, development to fuel success
More: After strong finish in 2025, Westwood football tackles new challenges
Pittman’s injury prematurely ended his sophomore campaign, occurring on Nov. 15, 2024, during the Rams’ playoff game against Dillard. During that season, he led the team in receiving with 444 yards and was ranked second among skill-position players in total touchdowns (11).
Now a senior, Pittman will look to regain his previous form while rejoining his fellow Rams on the field.
“I just take it as a blessing to be back and just play with my teammates for my last year,” he said. “I don't look at it as a bad thing that I missed my last season because some people who wanted to play got opportunities. I wasn't really mad that I didn't get to play. I got to watch my teammates be happy and see the success that they can have without me.”
John Carroll produced an 8-3 record and reached the regional quarterfinals in 2025.
The injury
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Pittman went down while returning a kickoff during the first quarter against the Panthers and didn't get back up until help arrived to guide him to the sidelines.
Thanks to his adrenaline, the running back still thought he could return to the game. He was able to walk, but when his knee gave out as soon as he tried to run again, that’s when he realized his night was over.
“I just thought I could keep playing,” Pittman recalled. “I wanted to keep playing, but I had to just think about it and think about how many more injuries could have happened. ... I couldn't play, but I couldn't get in the way of what God wanted for me.”
Pittman didn’t know the extent of his injury until the following spring.
The next morning after the game, he had knee stiffness and couldn’t fully extend his leg. Following X-rays soon thereafter, Pittman was advised to do physical therapy. However, still feeling pain, he had his first MRI in March 2025, when the tear was discovered. Pittman had surgery on April 15, 2025, exactly five months to the day after he suffered the injury.
He rehabbed throughout the following summer at the BARWIS Performance Center on Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce. The work was grueling and constant as he labored toward strengthening his knee. But as times got tough, Pittman turned to his faith.
“I think going through the injury, it was a time where I just needed to slow down and focus on God,” he said. “Through rehab, focusing on God made me build the attitude that I have now, where I was able to see the light in the dark incident that happened. I got to see who God is, what he wants me to do and who he wants me to be. ... I grew my relationship with God, and my faith in him got closer and deeper.”
‘I’ll be active and ready to go’
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In addition to his work at BARWIS, Pittman remained a presence inside the Rams’ facilities. As a result, the senior has put more bulk on his 5-foot-8 frame.
“Injuries are tough on any high school athlete, especially ACLs, when they know they’ll be out for a while. And sometimes we've had kids here who kind of disappear for a little bit. They'll do minimal work, or they'll do their treatment with our trainer. But (Pittman) was a guy, even fresh out of surgery, that was in our training room and the weight room right away, doing the things he was able to do upper-body-wise,” John Carroll head football coach Mickey Groody said. “The recruits that have been around to see him can see that he has gotten so much physically stronger. ... I think that just shows his work ethic, coming back stronger and ready for whatever this season brings.”
With his health improving, Pittman had a small window to suit up at the end of last season but opted against rushing back. He ultimately made his athletic return first with the John Carroll boys track and field team, where he emerged as one of the top sprinters in Florida. Pittman captured district and regional titles in the 100-meter dash before finishing eighth in the event at the Class 1A state meet.
The running back eventually returned to the football field, playing in the Rams’ spring games against Fort Pierce Central and South Fork. Pittman was reluctant to try any massive jukes or moves considering the stakes in the spring, but he said that will change now that his senior season has arrived.
“I just didn’t want to do anything crazy during the spring,” he said. “But when the fall comes, I’ll be active and ready to go.”
Pittman currently holds an offer from FIU.
John Carroll - 2026 schedule
8/13 - vs. St. Lucie West Centennial, 6 p.m. (Kickoff Classic)
8/21 - vs. Bishop Verot, 7 p.m.
8/28 - at Glades Central, 7 p.m.
9/4 - at Cardinal Newman, 7 p.m.
9/11 - vs. Somerset Prep, 7 p.m.
9/18 - Bye
9/25 - at Pahokee, 6:30 p.m.
10/2 - vs. Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, 7 p.m.
10/9 - at True North Classical Academy, 7 p.m.
10/17 - vs. Treasure Coast
10/23 - at Benjamin, 7 p.m.
10/30 - vs. Spruce Creek, 7 p.m.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: John Carroll’s Jaydien Pittman returns stronger after ACL injury
Continue reading...
