Segerstrom senior Ayden Morales is looking for a big senior season with the Jaguars. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).
Segerstrom High School senior two-way player Ayden Morales isn’t the loudest player on the football field – nor is he the biggest.
However, the returning first-team all-league standout has been a vital component to the success of the Jaguars over the past two seasons. Now, he looks to take the next step as a leader and help guide Segerstrom to a league title in 2025.
According to Segerstrom Coach Joseph Tagaloa, “his actions speak volumes.”
Whether it’s on the field, in the weight room, or in the classroom, Morales challenges himself, along with his teammates, to be accountable on a daily basis.
“[I] continuously challenge myself to be better each day and each season,” Morales said. “I [try to] really challenge the team in workouts and [to] outwork other teams when we’re playing [by] really fighting for yards.”
To see additional photos of Morales, click on the first photo:
Like his team, Morales embraces an underdog mentality. Doubts about his size have served as motivation for Morales throughout his career.
“I came into high school with a chip on my shoulder,” Morales said. “[Since] playing in Pop Warner, I’ve been underestimated because of my size. I really want to show people how good I am and how great I can be.”
It’s reflected in the player he emulates his game after: Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco.
As a seventh-round pick in the NFL draft, Pacheco is the epitome of an underdog who defied expectations.
“He (Pacheco) has a toughness to him,” Morales said. “He likes to run angry.”
Similar to Pacheco, the Segerstrom running back plays with ferocious aggression. And when matched with his self-reported 4.7 40-yard speed, it puts defenders in an uncomfortable position when he’s able to get to the second level of the defense.
After making first team all-league last season, he returns as the Jaguars’ top returning rusher, as he accumulated 406 yards on the ground in his junior season.
He also earned all-league defensive team honors last season, recording 81 total tackles. Morales will now transition from the nickel back spot to the strong safety position in an effort to give him a bigger role in the team’s passing defense this fall.
His growth has impressed Coach Tagaloa, who witnessed the two-way player’s quick rise throughout the program – from a backup at the start of his sophomore year to a star in his junior campaign.
But Morales’ connection with Tagaloa goes deeper than their time together at the high school level. In addition to having a brother who played at Segerstrom, Morales played Pop Warner football starting at seven years old with his head coach’s son, Noah Tagaloa.
“It seems like Ayden has been in our program longer than four years,” Tagaloa said. “His older brother Isaiah played for us while Ayden was still playing Pop Warner, so I’ve been able to see him grow tremendously.”
“Off the field, he’s helped me academically and find ways to be a smarter student,” Morales said. “[He’s] helped me be a better man, honestly.”
Tagaloa has guided Segerstrom to the post season seven times since taking over the head coaching role in 2016, with Morales playing a crucial role in the team’s previous two appearances.
Last season, the Jaguars finished with an 8-4 record, claiming second place in the Kappa League. After coming up one game short of a league title last fall, Morales hopes to help lead his team to an even better record this season en route to some potential hardware.
“Our goal is to compete every year and be better than we were last year,” Morales said.
“We just want to be better and fix the mistakes that we made last year. Our goal is really just to compete in the playoffs, win championships and win league this year after we lost to Brea (Olinda) balast year.”
On top of aspiring for his team to improve upon its record from last season, Morales also aims to achieve a personal goal as he wraps up his time in high school – earn an offer to play at the Division 1 level.
He credits a strong support system for guiding him toward a position where he can compete at camps to turn this dream into a reality.
“I want to play at the D1 level,” Morales said. “I have a lot of support behind me with my teammates, my family and my friends [that] help keep me on the right track.”
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