Jaden Voisin nabs AOTW

After his fifth interception of the season, Crestview senior Jaden Voisin finally drew an eye brow raise from defensive coordinator Tommy Johnson.

Yeah, that Tommy Johnson. State champion defensive back at Niceville. National champion and four-year starter at the University of Alabama. NFL veteran.

“He told me, ‘Hey, you’re getting a little closer to me,’ ” said the 6-foot, 180-pound Voisin.

Johnson, a 1990 Niceville alumnus, had eight interceptions his senior year. Voisin now has six picks through eight games, including five over his last three.

Pretty good company, eh?

“Absolutely,” Voisin said. “He went to Alabama, so that’s all I want. I’d love to follow in his footsteps and go to a Power-5 program.”

Keep racking up the pick-sixes and Voisin will soon have his pick of Division I suitors.

The 6-foot senior has three straight games with a pick-six, including two last week in a 55-0 win over District 3-6A rival Fort Walton Beach. One went 72 yards to paydirt. The other went for 51 yards.

The week before he had two interceptions against Milton, including a pick-six. And the week before that he had a 42-yard pick-six against Choctaw.

“My coaches put me in the right spot,” Voisin said. “I make quarterbacks think I’m covering the vertical ball but then I cheat one way. I break down on shorter routes.”

Making his defensive exploits more impressive is that he plays both ways, hauling in 500-plus receiving yards and four touchdowns, including a score in three straight to accent the interception streak.

Helping fuel the numbers is the success of twin brother Devin, who leads the Bulldogs with 24 catches for 671 yards and eight scores.

“I’m definitely proud of him,” Voisin said. “He’s definitely in the top 10 (of receivers in Florida). If he explodes, it falls back on me too.”

Q&A

When you think of great rivalries, you think Duke-UNC, BoSox-Yanks, UT-OU, Alabama-Auburn, Saints-Falcons. Where does the Crestview-Niceville rivalry rank, especially considering the Oct. 26 matchup will decide the District 3-6A championship once again?

It’s definitely one of the top games I want to play this season. They’re a good team and they’re ranked higher than us. A district championship is definitely a goal. Every year we’ve had home-field advantage in regionals we’ve won.

Is there a healthy respect for the Eagles?

Absolutely. I’d never trash Niceville.

How’s the recruiting trail going?

I’m talking to several schools. I’m hoping to get a Power 5 offer by the end of the season.

Those two losses earlier this year to Navarre and West Florida, did that adversity help?

I think it humbled us really. We thought we were a lot better than we were and we got a little too comfortable. There was also some arguing early on, but those losses united us. Now we’re better for it and getting along well.

You’re at three straight games with an interception. How far can that streak hit?

I’m hoping I can get one every game from here on out. But that’ll be tough, especially with us facing Thompson (Ala.). Tua Tagovailoa’s little bro, Taulia, stars for the 6-1Warriors.

Tim Hatten: scary or a player’s coach or somewhere inbetween?

I’d describe him as a player’s guy. He’s real talkative with us. He definitely get a little angry sometimes just because he knows how good we can be and he has high expectations.

You can have dinner with three people, living or dead, who you got?

Antonio Brown so I could get tips from him. Uh, Gus Malzahn so I can talk him into offering me. And I gotta put a girl in there. I’d have to get Scarlett Johansson.

Mountain cabin or beach cottage?

Definitely mountain because I’m not a fan of the beach.

Finish this sentence: Devin will never beat me in …

Anything.

Finish this sentence: I will never beat Devin in …

I don’t know about that. Maybe growing more hair than him?

You go on a road trip across America and you can bring one person. Who ya got?

Austin Chapman, he’s a teammate. We do everything together and he’s been a friend for a long time.