Meet the Star-Telegram high school football Offensive Player of the Year
Introducing the Star-Telegram Offensive Player of the Year: Aledo senior wide receiver Kaydon Finley.
Finley was a key contributor in Aledo’s run to the Class 5A Division I state semifinals. He tallied 1,483 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns on 75 receptions.
In his career as a Bearcat, he registered 220 receptions, 3,948 yards and 54 TDs — all Aledo school records. That’s an impressive accomplishment considering the Bearcats’ storied history with 12 state championships and a long list of productive players.
Aledo head coach Robby Jones said even when Finley was in middle school, everyone knew he was “the guy.” He said from the moment Finley put on pads, you could tell he was going to be special.
Finley is the son of former Texas Longhorn and six-year NFL veteran Jermichael Finley. He grew up around the game, which sparked a love for it and created a strong football IQ.
Jones raved about his consistency, intelligence, hard work and athleticism. He made a point to emphasize that Finley had a deep love for the Aledo community.
“He loved being a part of this team,” Jones said. “He loved his teammates. And he would go out each and every week and he would compete. He was competing to win. More than that, he wanted to win for his brothers that he was playing with.”
Finley, a Notre Dame signee rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports, has a 6-foot-2, 205 pound frame. He was named the District 3-5A Division I MVP.
Jones said he has very high expectations for Finley’s career moving forward.
“The sky is the limit for him,” Jones said. “He is an extremely hard worker. So, I don’t think he is going to go to college and have a problem adjusting to the workload. We’re expecting him to go and have a great career at Notre Dame. … He is one of those guys who wants to go to Notre Dame, stay at Notre Dame and do great things there.
“Hopefully, he can stay healthy and possibly make it into the NFL. He has those types of capabilities.”
While at Aledo, Finley became a team leader, setting the tone for three consecutive undefeated district titles. He earned the respect of his teammates, including quarterback Lincoln Tubbs, who praised him for his steady leadership and model behavior.
Jones said Finley did an excellent job of leading by example.
“He is not one of those star athletes that thinks he doesn’t have to do everything that everyone else is doing,” Jones said. “He was a great teammate. And he was elected a team captain two years in a row.”
In 2023, Finley helped Aledo win the Class 5A Division I state championship. He ended his career with 258 yards on nine receptions in the semifinal loss to Frisco Lone Star.
Star-Telegram awards
The Star-Telegram is releasing high school football awards throughout the week:
Monday: Defensive Player of the Year
Tuesday: Offensive Player of the Year
Wednesday: Coach of the Year
Thursday: Player of the Year
Friday: 2025 All-Area Super Team
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