Jayton's Bode Ham could be next player to go from six-man to college football
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COLORADO CITY — College programs are beginning to learn what Jayton football coach Josh Stanaland has known for quite some time: Bode Ham can play.
Ham is drawing next-level attention as he and the Jaybirds continue their quest for a second-straight state championship. That recently manifested in an offer from Division II East Texas A&M.
It’s another case in which six-man football is producing athletes ready to take on 11-man in the college ranks. The most high-profile such recruits in the class of 2026 are Gordon’s Ry Reed and Stryker Reed, who are committed to Army and Air Force, respectively.
“At this level, we put out really good, really well-rounded football players,” Stanaland said, “and they can do a lot of things. Most of them can run and throw and catch and carry the ball. Everybody has to be able to tackle. Everybody has to be able to cover a little bit. They just check so many boxes about being a hybrid player that can do a lot of different things.”
Stanaland is familiar with another six-man star who moved to the Division I level. Grayson Rigdon, who faced the Jaybirds in the 2023 playoffs, signed with Arizona State last year. Rigdon led Strawn to a state championship before two at Benjamin and another at Class 3A Division I Columbus as a senior. His Benjamin squad is the only team to beat Jayton in the past 42 games.
“I think just word getting out into the public and into the coaching circles about these really high-level six-man kids,” Stanaland said, “is kind of opening their eyes to what these kids are capable of.”
Ham entered such conversations after transforming his frame. The 5-foot-10 senior has worked himself up to 174 pounds to aid in his bruising running style. He utilized his size to the tune of 238 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Jayton’s 64-19 state-semifinal win over Klondike last week. He also had three catches for 48 yards and threw two TD passes.
“He started for us in ninth grade, I think he was 108 pounds,” Stanaland said. “I was listening to a radio broadcast of our game this week and they referred to him as a bowling ball. Just the way that he’s changed and grown and added so much muscle and hasn’t sacrificed speed, it’s been pretty incredible.”
The growth could even change his projected position for the next level. College coaches have told him he’s too small to be ballcarrier. Considered a defensive back, Ham would love a chance to contribute on offense. He surpassed 100 career rushing TDs with his performance against Klondike.
“If there’s one thing I know about him, it’s that if you tell him he can’t do something, he’s gonna work really hard to prove you wrong,” Stanaland said. “He’s putting on good, lean mass. I think he’d love to carry the ball at the next level, and if they tell him he has to be 190 pounds, then I wouldn’t put it past him to get there.”
Ham isn’t the only college-football hopeful at Jayton. The Jaybirds will get one more chance to display their game skills when they face Richland Springs in the 1A D-II state championship Dec. 17 at AT&T Stadium.
“It just goes to show you that if you’re talented enough, college coaches will find you,” Stanaland said. “(Ham’s) not the only one in our program that’s getting it, he’s just getting the most amount of attention right now.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Jayton’s Bode Ham drawing interest as college football recruit
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