Jadon Bender

Jadon, as a senior, was named to the Associated Press All-State First Team as an defensive back for the 2025 season. He was also named to the  Detroit News First Team All-State, Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-State and Capital Area Activities Conference Blue Division All-League.

And for the 2025 season, Bender was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Lansing State Journal

As a junior he was Honorable Mention Associated Press, Second Team Detroit News All-State, Honorable Mention Detroit Free Press, All Region Michigan High School Football Association All-State and also on the Lansing State Journal Dream Team team and Capital Area Activities Conference Blue Division All-League.

His sophomore year he was a Capital Area Activities Conference Blue Division All-League selection.

Bender was a four year starter for DeWitt that had excellent success. The Panthers were a combined 42-8 including one state championship (2025) and a spot in the 2024 and 2022 state semi-finals.

Brave. Fearless. Aggressive. All-out. Emotional. That was Jadon's approach to the game in so many ways.

His senior season the Panthers had one of the best defenses in school history. His contribution, 26 tackles and a sack, 8 batted passes and 8 interceptions for 190 return yards and two returned for touchdowns plus one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Add in two kickoff returns for touchdowns, six receptions for touchdowns for a total of eleven touchdowns. He had 22 receptions for 371 yards, 5 kickoff returns for 99 yards and 11 punt returns for 133 yards with 7 fair catches. A lot of quickness and speed.

His junior season he had 47 tackles, 5 batted passes and 2 interceptions. Offensively 427 receiving yards on 26 catches for 6 receptions.

For his four year career, defensively he had 111 tackles, 5 recovered fumbles, 17 batted passes and 10 interceptions. Offensively he had 56 receptions for 1,003 yards and 13 touchdowns. Special teams in the last two seasons, 135 punt return yards, 277 kickoff return yards and 2 TDs.

Jadon will continue his football career at Michigan Tech University.