Green Comes Home for a Big Game in His Texas Backyard

HOUSTON — Excuse Jaivion Green if he's not all wide-eyed and curious in staring at this sprawling Texas town like some first-time tourist, which would aptly describe most of his University of Washington football teammates.

As he stood in the George R. Brown Convention Center over the weekend for College Football Playoff championship game media day activities, the Husky cornerback was at home, literally almost standing in his living room.

"I'm just five minutes from here," the sophomore said, surrounded by TV cameras because he was the only local guy among 11 Texans collectively on both rosters turning up in this college football finale between unbeaten teams from Washington and Michigan. 

Green, who's played in all 14 Husky games in a reserve role, holds the distinction of becoming one of Kalen DeBoer's first high school recruits once he and his coaching staff took over two years ago. 

They took a player from Lamar High School, which answers to the nickname Texans, and someone who played well at the 6A level of football and highest in the state, earning second-team All-State recognition. 

"It's amazing, truly being in my backyard," Green said. "Nobody's ever dreamed of this being in Seattle for just two years and losing two games, and now we're here. We felt we should have been here a long time ago — and now we're just here to get it done."

With remaining CFP tickets going from $990 to $1,300, Green said not all of his family will attend the contest at NRB Stadium, which is located just four miles from Lamar High, but he'll be well represented.

"A lot of people want to come to the game, but I'm sure as y'all know the tickets are pretty high," he said. "A lot of family will be watching at home, but a lot of family will be there, as well."

Green played nine Husky games as a freshman, forced to pull a lot of snaps because many of the veteran cornerbacks repeatedly got injured. He enters the title game with 12 tackles and a pass deflection and will rotate in as a sub. 

Green says he's happy with how things have turned out for him at the UW, now having played in 23 games in his first two seasons in the program, which is a high number for a younger player. 

One of the Husky No. 1 cornerback slots should open up in the spring with starter Jabbar Muhammad expected to enter the NFL draft and Green should get ample opportunity to compete for it.

"I think my progress is going up pretty well," he said. "I think I'm just trusting in what the coaches have to say to me in what they're offering. I'm just trusting in the coaches and they've really inspired me to the program. I'm just waiting my turn."