Not too long ago, Gautier quarterback Kaden Irving joined an elite club, surpassing 10,000 passing yards for his varsity career. Next week, he’ll be one of just four players in the state to receive his U.S. Army All-American Bowl jersey.
But on the eve of his team’s first round playoff game, Irving is signing his national letter of intent with the Ole Miss baseball program.
“Definitely a special day, because it’s something that I’ve worked for my whole life, and everybody here had something to do with my success now, whether it’s just sitting there, talking to me or actually going out there with me, helping.”
It’s been a long time coming for Gautier baseball star Kaden Irving, who gave his verbal pledge to the Rebels in January 2020. “Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been an Ole Miss fan. I feel like Coach Bianco is a great coach and that’s somebody I’ve always wanted to play for, and the past few years, just seeing the constant success of the program is something that I can’t pass up.”
There really isn’t a better sales pitch than winning a national championship in Omaha, something Ole Miss did for the very first time in program history in June. “That’s something I dream about every night ever since I was a little kid, something that I’m working for, everything I’m doing now is leading up for that moment.”
The moment seemingly never too big for the former News 25 Student Athlete of the Week, who was tied for eighth in the state last season with eight home runs. Believe it or not, his stats are even better on the football field as a once-in-a-generation quarterback for the playoff bound Gators. Head Football Coach Marc High said, “Going to baseball games and watching him hit the ball some and just play the field, and I always heard from a younger age, he’s as good of a baseball player as he is a football player, and I said, well, he’s a pretty good football player, and I really enjoy watching him grow, and just seeing him, he’s one of those, you know at the next level, he’s going to be successful. There’s no doubt.”
Head Coach Marc High and his All-American gunslinger are currently in the midst of Gautier’s best season since the late 90s. Irving leads the state with more than 3,100 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns to go along with another 14 rushing scores.
But as of now, his only future is on the diamond. “That’s something that I’m going to still leave up to God. That’s the only thing I can do in that situation because I’ve got love for both sports, but at the end of the day, I’m just an athlete at the end of the day. Both sports, it’s been something that I’ve had to battle, but just through prayer and talking with family and people that I trust, I feel like I made the right decision.”
Mr. 10K on the football field and almost a perfect 10 on the baseball field, rated 9.5 by Perfect Game after dominating the Junior National Showcase prior to his junior season with an all-time event record for exit velocity, 102 miles per hour off a wooden bat.
A man with so many reasons to brag, but even more reasons to stay grounded on his way to Oxford. “The biggest testament to him was yesterday was actually signing day, and he came over and said Coach, I don’t want to do anything on Wednesday because we’ve got to have a good Wednesday practice, so that speaks to the kind of kid he is. He didn’t want any of this to be on him or anything. He wanted nothing but the team to be ready to go for Friday night, and that just shows the type of kid he is and how is such an unbelievable teammate and how he tries to get everybody to rally together for one goal.”
“Staying humble and just thanking the Man above whenever I can, all the time actually, because without Him, none of this would be possible. As quick as it came, it could always go away. Hotty Toddy, baby. Hotty Toddy.”
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