Linebacker Ayden Duda – Class of 2029, Aubrey Rogers High School (FL)

Ayden Duda is a freshman linebacker from Naples, Florida, who has already begun making an impact at Aubrey Rogers High School. At 5’10” and 150 pounds, Ayden brings a rare combination of speed, strength, and intelligence to the linebacker position. His offseason was packed with growth, as he worked with his team in the weight room, trained with a speed coach to sharpen his 40-yard dash, and continued one-on-one work with a linebacker coach who used drills modeled after college and NFL standards. The result has been clear: Ayden is faster, stronger, and more technically polished than ever.

Off the field, Ayden takes pride in being disciplined and organized. With both of his parents working as educators, he understands the importance of prioritizing school and carries a perfect 4.0 GPA. By arriving early to school each morning to complete academic work and cutting back on social media and gaming, he ensures his focus remains on what matters most. That focus has paid off: Ayden was named Freshman Team Captain and has already moved up to compete at the junior varsity level. With a strong supporting cast of teammates and a big rivalry against Gulf Coast circled on the calendar, Ayden is excited to continue building his leadership role while proving himself against tough competition.

Q: What did your offseason training look like?

Ayden: “This offseason consisted of not only working out with the team, but working with a speed coach as well as a linebacker specific coach. Each of these areas contributed to different parts of my game. All this has helped me come into camp and fall season prepared to step into a leadership role and contribute immediately at both the freshman and Junior Varsity level.”

Q: How do you keep school and football balanced?

Ayden: “My parents are educators so we value school and all that the work that goes into it. I am fortunate to go to school an hour early each morning and do school work before the day starts. I have cut back my social media time and video game time to help ensure my priorities are in place.”

Q: What goals did you set coming into the season?

Ayden: “Coming into the season my goals were to be a captain as well as play in a Junior Varsity game as well as keep my grades up. Working hard and taking initiative I have been made Freshman Team Captain as well as already been moved up to the JV Team.”

Q: How is your team coming together this season?

Ayden: “For a freshman team the group of guys we have coming in are super solid and have played a lot of Pop Warner ball locally. I think the more we practice the more we come together as a unit and build a good team.”

Q: Which matchup are you most looking forward to?

Ayden: “The game I am looking forward to most is the Gulf Coast game. This is because a lot of my friends that I have played alongside for the last 4 years are now on that team. It will be fun to compete against them.”

If his current progress is any indication, Ayden is just getting started and will be a name to remember.