Jaylen Severino plans to play football at Salve Regina University beginning this fall.
But as a Gloucester High student-athlete, the recent graduate will be remembered not just for his profound impact on the gridiron, but his overall versatility throughout all three athletic seasons.
As a standout running back, cornerback, safety and the team’s punter and kicker last season, Severino shined for a Fishermen team that won eight games, its most since 2018. Transitioning to the winter months, he decided to take up indoor track for the first time in his high school career and swiftly became the team’s most valuable male athlete.
And this past spring, Severino served as a reliable hitter and fielder for a baseball squad that went 18-4 and snared a win in the Division 3 playoffs.
Needless to say, Severino is the epitome of a well-rounded athlete, and each of his respective teams were better because of it.
“Jaylen is a dynamic athlete. He was a game changer for us on offense with big play capabilities (and) he took a huge step last fall in really learning how to run more effectively and with power,” said former GHS football coach Dan O’Connor, who will remain on staff as an assistant this fall. “His special team influence was a huge part of our success as well.”
Severino’s senior year football numbers speak for themselves.
An NEC All-Conference selection, he rushed for a team-high 946 yards and 11 TDs on 81 carries, surpassing 100 yards in a single game four times. In Gloucester’s first Thanksgiving Day win over Danvers since 2017, Severino had lengthy TD runs of 60-and-77-yards to round out his stellar career.
But beyond his on-field impact, Severino was a true leader — and that, said O’Connor, was perhaps his biggest asset.
“He’s just a great kid, buys into coaching and consistently is trying to better himself,” said O’Connor. “When your captains and better players do that it trickles down and sets your culture. He and our other captains were great leaders by example.”
When it came time for track, Severino’s natural athletic abilities, speed and power allowed him to thrive on multiple levels despite having little experience in the sport.
He piled up 110 points across six regular season meets, by far the highest mark on the team and the highest total by any athlete in GHS head coach David Coleman’s tenure. Specializing in the 55 hurdles (he finished third at D4 states with a time of 7.84 seconds) and the dash (PR of 6.87), Severino also found success in throws.
He finished second at the NEC Championships in the shot put (45-feet) while also setting PRs of 19-feet in the long jump and 5-foot-5 in the high jump. He set a new school record in the 60 meter hurdles and the pentathlon (2,904 points), earning the right to represent GHS as the program’s lone competitor at the MIAA Meet of Champions. Severino also competed at Nationals in New York as a shuttle hurdle relay participant and sprint medley relayer.
Severino was named the NEC’s Most Valuable Athlete at year’s end.
“He came in as a first-time track athlete and was just very coachable,” said Coleman. “His willingness to learn, his interest in trying new things, being positive and watching to cheer on his teammates … I mean, he’s the type of kid that was cheering on the JV shot putters when he wasn’t running or throwing which is just impressive. He cares about a lot more than just his own stats.”
Finally, as a baseball player Severino was the type of guy any coach would welcome on their team.
An every-day starter and team captain, he batted .254 with a .412 on base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage, which was among the team’s best.
He had 16 total hits including eight doubles (second best on team) and two triples (most on team) to go with seven RBI and 18 runs scored (second on team). His 12 steals were the most on his team and he did so at a 100 percent success rate.
Severino was as gifted an athlete to grace the halls at Gloucester High in quite some time, and Salve Regina is certainly fortunate to be adding him to their football program.
Sports Editor Nick Giannino may be contacted at 978-675-2712 or ngiannino@northofboston.com.