A year after his parents and sister were killed in a car crash while driving home from his football game, a Muscogee County School District student got a spirit-boosting surprise from the NFL — and the idea came from a former MCSD student.
Carver High School junior Braylon Jakes learned during Friday’s assembly that the NFL is providing two tickets for him and a guest to attend Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
Kalin Tate, a 2014 Shaw High School graduate, is the NFL’s sponsorship coordinator. This is the seventh season the NFL allows employees to nominate someone they think deserves to be among the recipients of the 500 Super Bowl tickets the league office gives away.
When it was time to submit nominations this year, Tate recalled reading about the Jakes family tragedy.
“It truly made me emotional as I couldn’t imagine being without my parents at 15 years old,” she told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email. “I had no idea who Braylon was. I only knew that he lived in my hometown and we have similar backgrounds.”
Tate was thrilled when she was notified Braylon was selected and she could be in the NFL delegation presenting the surprise in Columbus.
“Being able to help others, especially in something that relates to what I love, sports and football, it was a full circle moment,” she said.
WTVM reported in October 2022 that police said three members of the Jakes family — Byron, 45, Katrina, 43, and Kamryn, 10 — were driving home from Carver’s football game at Thomasville High School when another vehicle crossed into their lane and caused a head-on collision. All three died as their car erupted in flames.
“Braylon loved his family, and the last time he saw them was that football game,” Tate wrote in her nomination. “His entire life changed forever and devastated everyone around him.”
Tate, however, noted Braylon soared above his grief.
“Braylon is so dedicated to football, the very next game against Crisp County High School at home the following week, Braylon not only was the team captain, but he scored 2 touchdowns and dedicated them to his family,” she wrote.
His teammates and opponents also stepped up. The Carver Tigers greeted Braylon when he returned home and continued to support him, and the Thomasville Bulldogs raised money for his family, Tate noted.
“Braylon’s story is a true testament to what football is all about — coming together as a team,” she wrote. “… Attending the Super Bowl would give him something major to look forward to as in 2024, he will be going into his senior year. Braylon has a bright future ahead of him, and for Braylon to know that the NFL supports him along this never-ending journey of grieving his family, would give him that extra push he needs to reach for the stars.”
Braylon has impressed Carver principal Chris Lindsey with the maturity he has shown during the past year.
“He’s doing extremely well,” Lindsey told the Ledger-Enquirer. “As young as he is, and to handle things the way has — no disciplinary problems, no academic problems — he has a good family structure with his grandmother.”
And that’s whom Braylon said he will give the other ticket to accompany him to the Super Bowl. He has been living with Jacqueline Jakes, his paternal grandmother, since the car accident.
“She’s my best friend,” he told reporters after the assembly.
Braylon also appreciates the Carver family.
“I don’t know what I would do without my coaches, my teammates, teachers, faculty, staff — everybody,” he said.
Jakes expressed her gratitude as well.
“When I see that support coming from so many people, it just touches my heart,” she told reporters. “Braylon is wrapped up in Carver and football. … Carver, his coaches, his teammates — they are his first priority.”
Jakes described Braylon as “the bravest, strongest young man I know. He has brought so much joy into my life, under the circumstances that have happened. He’s been my saving grace. He reminds me so much of his dad. It’s just like his dad is here with me all over again. I always tell him, ‘You’re mom and dad already raised you. You just need an adult in your life to guide you until you become an adult. And he’s getting there. He’s matured a whole lot, and I am so proud of Braylon.”
Braylon returned the praise.
“She means everything to me,” he said. “She teaches me a lot. She lets me know when I’m right. She lets me know when I’m wrong. She’s just always somebody I can come to, no matter what it is.”
Tate announced the surprise after conducting an on-stage interview with three former Carver football stars who played in the NFL. Isaiah Crowell, DJ Jones and Gabe Wright.
“I see how far they went,” said Braylon, a wide receiver, “so I know it’s possible.”
Crowell and Wright presented Braylon with supersized replicas of the two Super Bowl tickets he’ll share with his grandmother.
“It means a lot to me,” he said. “I’m very excited. I can’t wait.”
This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Ledger-Enquirer.
