\"An eighth-grader at Central Junior High, Jaylon—who plays running back, receiver and defensive back—drew national attention when he caught five passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns to help the East team to a victory at the NFL's 8th Grade All-American Game in Canton, Ohio, in August,\" Sports Illustrated wrote in its \"Six Teens Who Will Rule the Future in Sports\" article in November. \"Last year, Jaylon rushed for 1,546 yards and 21 TDs for his youth football team, the East St. Louis Jr. Flyers.\"
\"He hopes to follow in the footsteps of Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson, a star at USC, who is also from the St. Louis suburb of Belleville and also played both ways,\" the article continued.
The NFL star reacted to the news on Twitter.
Lawmakers and school officials in the region also expressed condolences.
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