University of Northern Iowa Athletics
2026 Spring Football Roster
Roster
Jaylen Pettus
- Position:
- Defensive Line
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-3 / 235
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Des Moines, Iowa
- High School:
- Dowling Catholic HS
- Major:
- Sports Administration
2025: Appeared in all 12 games and made one start … Recorded 22 total tackles including six solo and 16 assisted … Tallied five TFL for 21 yards including 2.5 sacks for 18 yards … Blocked a kick against North Dakota (Oct. 4).
2024 (AT USF): Did not see any game action.
2023 (AT IOWA WESTERN CC): First-Team NJCAA All-American … Played in 12 games and logged 40 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 9.0 sacks, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and two blocked kicks as No. 2 Iowa Western went 12-1 and rolled to the 2023 NJCAA D1 Football National Championship, topping No. 4 East Mississippi, 61-14, in the championship game … Blocked and recovered a punt in the championship game.
2022 (AT IOWA WESTERN CC): Appeared in 11 games … posted 29 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble ... NJCAA National Champion.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Dowling Catholic High School … First Team All-State Defensive Lineman … Team captain senior season.
PERSONAL: From Des Moines, Iowa.
