The 2024 Gridiron Football Junior High All-American Bowl Game featured not only some of the best 7th and 8th graders across the entire state of Louisiana, but there was a 6th grader that showed he could play with the bigger boys for Team South and that is Sacred Heart of Jesus Middle School running back Kaiden Monroe.
Although not the biggest player out there, Monroe makes up for it with his shiftiness and explosive speed in the open field. Once he makes it to the second level of the defense, you can forget about it. Monroe is a touchdown waiting to happen and on multiple occasions for Sacred Heart/Holy Family combined middle school team, he did make things happen. Twice, Monroe scored five touchdowns in one game with one time coming against Ascension Catholic last year and the other against St. Theresa. He also scored game winning touchdowns on punt returns twice this season against St. Jean Vianney/St. Alphonsus and St. Thomas More/Most Blessed Sacrament showing how electric he can be with the ball in his hands. Overall, he accounted for 12 touchdowns this season. He even showed that in the junior All-American Bowl Game bursting for a 20+ yard run.
That hard to catch open field speed does not happen by accident as the Bears’ star playmaker is also a track and field superstar as one of the top track runners for his age group even running for the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics.
With all that success shown in sports at an early age, Kaiden Monroe has not let that success go to his head as a solid B student and he wants to continue to keep his head down by improving his game to being the very best it can be. After middle school, he plans on attending U-High.
Check out my interview with this rising star below!
What are the biggest strengths to your game as a running back?
“I am good at hitting the hole. I know how to cut up and run through a hole. Once I see daylight, you can’t catch me.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
When did you realize that you were pretty fast?
“When I started playing football, I was in third grade. I just picked the football and started running. I knew I can do something with it.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
What other sports do you play besides football?
“I play basketball and run track.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
Speaking of track, I heard that you were in the Junior Olympics. What were some of your accomplishments of being in the Junior Olympics?
“I am actually 6th in the nation in the 100 meters and I run the 200 meters as well.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
How has the Junior Olympics help you on the football field?
“The Junior Olympics have helped me build on my stamina and has boosted my speed. It has really helped me improve my speed. I am getting faster and the faster I get, the easier it is going to be for me in the long run.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
What is your favorite football memory?
“We didn’t win the game, but my favorite football memory was this year when I caught a pass over four people.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
What is the best game that you have played in so far?
“The previous week, I had a shoulder injury and I came back the next week and I scored five touchdowns.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
What do you need to improve on the most as a football player and as you get older?
“I just need to get better overall and not just in football. I need to get better hitting the hole on the football field and I need to get better with my schoolwork off the field.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
Who are some NFL players that you like to watch and model your game after?
“I like Tyreek Hill, but I like to watch older players like Barry Sanders and Bo Jackson.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
You played in our Gridiron Football Junior High All-American Bowl Game this year. What are your thoughts about playing in the bowl game and how did it make you better as a player?
“I had fun. It was a really high level game against the best players. You really had to be yourself because that’s what got you there in the first place. You really had to go out and just be you.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
What should our readers know about you off the field?
“I am a funny kid. I like to talk to people and I am just laid back.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
Who are some people that you like to thank for putting you in the position that you are in today?
“I want to thank my family members especially my granddaddy because he brings me to football practice a lot. I like to thank my teammates and my coaches as well.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
What is it like to play for Coach LeJeune?
“He is a great coach. He is always pushing me to get better and play better. He was one of my best coaches.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
When your football career comes to an end, what do you see yourself doing?
“I can see myself raising a family and raising my kids.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
Why should fans be excited to watch you and keep their eyes on you as a rising star?
“They should look up to me because I am always being myself on the field and I don’t let what people say about me get to me. I am good at blocking out the noise when I am out there.”
Sacred Heart RB Kaiden Monroe
To read more about Kaiden’s performance and to watch the 2024 Gridiron Football Junior High All-American Bowl Game, click below!
*We are about to begin the 2025 Gridiron Football Season and if you are a player that wants to be apart of the 2025 Gridiron Football Junior High All-American Bowl Game or the 2025 Gridiron Football Senior All-American Bowl Game, you must be at our events to be considered for the game. This will apply especially to Louisiana athletes since we have growing interest from outside the state. We are inviting top performers from our 7v7 tournaments, our elite camps, and finally, our Gridiron Football Media Day. We already have our first 7v7 tournament and two elite camps posted below. To register, you can click any of the pictures below!
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