What’s the saying? A family that plays together, stays together?
If that’s true, expect a long, happy association for the Hadens, Prince George’s County’s first family of football.
You might already know about record-setting senior quarterback Joe Haden III and junior running back/linebacker Josh Haden, the twin engines of the No. 3 Friendly football team.
But tonight when the Patriots host Urbana in a 3A state semifinal, many more Hadens will play roles. On the sidelines will be strength and conditioning coach Joe Haden, Jr. and his sons, freshman wide receiver Jordan Haden and 10-year-old ball boy Jonathan Haden. At the top of the stands, running Friendly’s popular concession stand is mother, Zakiya Haden, with help from 12-year-old son Jacob.
Football is a preoccupationthat has served the Hadens well. Joe has committed to Florida and Josh may follow suit. Florida’s Urban Meyer is one of 12 Division I coaches to extend Josh a scholarship offer.
Friendly assistant coach Marcus Berry believes freshman Jordan will be the most highly recruited. At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Jordan has five inches and 40 pounds on his brothers at a comparable age.
The Haden boys did not have to look far for a successful example. As a senior at Friendly in 1987, Joe Haden, Jr. won the state championship in the 400 meters. After running track at Morgan State, he turned to competitive body building, packing 270 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame. Haden, now a professional trainer, has raised his sons on plyometrics and weights, pumping them up first at age 13.
“When I started them on it, they were like, ‘Oh, man. Why do we have to do this,” said Joe Haden, Jr. “When they bought in, they quickly saw the results.”
Joe is 5-11 and 193 pounds, with 3 percent body fat. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.34 seconds) at Florida’s Friday Night Lights recruiting extravaganza last summer. Florida envisions him playing wide receiver. Josh is shorter and thicker at 5-8, 195 pounds, has comparable speed, and projects as a tailback.
It will be a daunting legacy for the youngest Haden, Jonathan. But he already is a star for the Marlow Heights Hurricanes Pop Warner team and Joe, Jr. is already sizing up his future trainee.
“We nicknamed him Ton-Ton because he’s built so compact,” he said. “[Jonathan’s] so into football. He loves it.”
Airing it out
» With 7,035 yards, Joe Haden is adding to his own Maryland record for career passing yards. Close behind is Sherwood senior Deontay Twyman (6,805) who also plays in the state semifinals Friday.
» Joe Haden and Twyman eclipsed previous record holder Mike Phisterer (North County) who passed for 6,522 yards from 1997-2000.
» Joe Haden and Twyman both have 77 career touchdown passes, more than any public school player in Maryland history.
