Jax Guidry Is Seeing the Game Differently
He can feel the difference.
When he goes back and watches his film from this season, he isn’t just seeing more plays. He’s seeing a better understanding of what is happening around him — and more confidence in what to do with it.
“When I watch my film from this season compared to last year, I see a lot more confidence and better understanding of the game,” Guidry said. “I’m playing faster, making quicker decisions, and trusting what I see instead of hesitating. I can also see that the work I put in during the offseason has made me more physical and consistent.”
That last part is important because Guidry’s development hasn’t come from simply trying to make bigger plays. It’s come from becoming more comfortable with the smaller decisions that happen before and during each snap.
Playing both running back and safety has given him a unique way to do that.
At running back, Guidry gets to experience how defenses are built to stop the run. At safety, he gets to see the game from the other side and recognize the things he has experienced himself as an offensive player.
“Playing both positions has helped me understand the game from both sides,” Guidry said. “At running back, I get to see how defenses are trying to stop the run, which helps me recognize those things when I’m at safety. At safety, I understand what the offense is trying to do because I’ve experienced it myself. It has made me a smarter and more complete player.”
It’s a perspective that can show up before the ball ever reaches him.
At safety, Guidry isn’t waiting for the play to tell him what’s happening. He’s looking for information beforehand — formation, personnel and alignment — and trying to recognize what an offense has shown him in the past.
“Before the snap, I’m looking at the formation, personnel, and how the offense is lined up,” Guidry said. “I’m trying to recognize their tendencies and figure out whether I should expect run or pass. I’m also making sure my teammates know what I’m seeing so we can all be on the same page.”
That communication is part of a bigger point Guidry wants people to understand about his game.
The plays that get the most attention aren’t always the plays that require the most work.
“There are plays where I might not get the ball or make the tackle, but I’m still helping the team by blocking, communicating, being in the right position, or creating an opportunity for someone else,” Guidry said. “I take pride in doing whatever my team needs.”
For a two-way player, that mindset matters.
There are no long stretches where he can completely shut things down. One series he’s preparing to carry the ball; the next he’s responsible for communicating in the secondary. The physical toll adds up, but so does the mental demand.
“The hardest part is dealing with the physical and mental demands of playing both sides,” Guidry said. “You have to be ready to switch from offense to defense and stay focused even when you’re tired. You have to have the right rest, to be able to take really good care of your body and stay mentally locked in.”
That is where the offseason work becomes more than something he can point to in an interview.
Guidry got a chance to see that preparation translate during the Brebeuf game. He remembers being locked in mentally and coming away surprised by what he was able to produce, while still making sure to credit the offensive line for helping create those opportunities.
“Making some big plays in the game is rewarding to see the preparation translate to the game,” Guidry said.
It’s a simple idea, but it’s become a theme in the way Guidry talks about his season.
He isn’t measuring his development only by what appears next to his name.
He’s paying attention to whether he is making better decisions, understanding the game sooner and doing the things that help his teammates even when the play doesn’t end with him.
That is also the part of his game that deserves attention when college coaches eventually watch the film.
Guidry remains uncommitted, and this isn’t about turning his story into a recruiting pitch. It’s about making sure the evaluation goes deeper than the obvious numbers.
“I want them to see my effort, toughness, football IQ, and competitiveness,” Guidry said. “I want them to see that I’m willing to do whatever the team needs and that I don’t take plays off. Stats can show tackles, yards, and touchdowns, but they can’t show how hard I work, how coachable I am, or how I respond when things don’t go my way.”
That’s the player Guidry wants the film to show.
A player who can contribute on both sides of the football. A player who studies what is happening before the snap. A player who understands that blocking, communication and positioning can matter just as much as the play that ends up in the stat book.
And most importantly, a player who believes the game is starting to make more sense.
Last season, Guidry was still learning.
This season, he’s beginning to trust what he sees.
The next step is continuing to show it on film.