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Now, Max sits in the stands at football games, but he won’t have to travel far to watch his son this week as Yates leads the Thundering Herd defense against Ohio State in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

“It’s always fun going back home, and I’m sure there will be a lot of faces in the stands that I’m pretty familiar with, a lot of faces on the other sideline I’m familiar with,� Yates said.

“But at the end of the day, it’s another opportunity for us to go and create value for ourselves, another opportunity for us to go play the game we love, so everybody’s excited.�

Yates is tied for the Thundering Herd lead with 20 tackles two games into his sophomore year, matching the production of fellow linebacker Landyn Watson, and has been a bright spot on a defense oozing with potential.

“I found the hardest part for a lot of people is just getting on the field initially,� Yates said. “So for me to be able to use special teams last year as a way to kind of springboard myself into a position and to come in and fight for that starting spot [this year] definitely meant a lot.�

It also means a lot to his father and mother, Max and Michelle, who were sporting their son’s jersey in the stands at Joan C. Edwards Stadium for the season opener on Aug. 31.

“I like what he said in the interview the other day, because this is kind of my mindset as well,� Max said. “It doesn’t matter where or what stadium, what town, who is there. You just got to suit up and play, and I think I’ll be just excited watching him in our hometown this Saturday as I am at Marshall.�

For Jaden Yates, having the support of the family as he establishes himself as a Division I FBS player, he said, means the world. He will sometimes go to his dad for advice, but for the most part, each stay in their own lane.

“At the end of the day, I can’t rely on his first or last name, you know. At the end of the day, I’m putting on the helmet; I’m putting on the shoulder pads,� Jaden said. “I’m the one who’s going out there making calls, making plays. I mean, this ain’t 1998 or whenever he played anymore.�

Max would be the first to tell anyone that Jaden is a different player than him — maybe even more advanced than he was at this point in his career.

“I do see some similarities in terms of the physical play, but I think where the difference comes into play, and if you know Jaden, his football IQ has way exceeded mine,� Max said.

“When I watch him, I usually just try to enjoy it from a dad’s perspective and pretend I didn’t play, you know, because it’s very easy to look and say, ‘Oh, you stepped a little bit wrong,’ or, ‘Your head’s turned different here.’

“I got away from that, and now it’s just, like, cheering and enjoying the moment.�

Jaden Yates is one of four Columbus natives on the Marshall roster, joining offensive lineman Jalen Slappy, wide receiver Vari Adams and running back Stanley Jackson.