When Batavia senior Jordan Buckley committed this summer to a scholarship offer from Ball State, it added a fascinating twist to the sibling rivalry for his family.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Buckley is moving from nose guard to defensive end this season for the Bulldogs, who are No. 1 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings.
His older brother Jalen is a 5-11, 210-pound redshirt freshman running back at Western Michigan, a Mid-American Conference West Division rival of the Cardinals.
The teams’ annual meeting could soon be an intriguing matchup between the brothers.
“Listening to them go back and forth talking about what will happen has been interesting,” Batavia defensive coordinator Matt Holm said.
Jalen also started on defense in the secondary for Holm.
“All I’m predicting is a major collision,” Holm said.
Jordan Buckley, whose first offer came from Southern Illinois, was also recruited by Western Michigan. He received an offer from the Broncos the day after committing to Ball State.
“I’m sticking with my gut,” he said.
Jordan called Jalen in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with the news.
“I said, ‘Go Cardinals,'” Jordan said. “He said, ‘All right, meet me one-on-one on the field.’
“The rivalry has started. It’s gonna be fun.”
Maybe for everyone but their mom and dad, Jernelle and Robert.
“They’ve devised this plan,” Jordan said. “One parent goes to a game here, the other to a game there, and then they’ll come back together to talk about it.”
He said neither brother can claim a win in their dive into the family’s gene pool.
“It was a 50-50 split,” Jordan said. “Jordan has the speed and the strength. I have the height and the body.”
Holm said the younger Buckley played nose guard in the Bulldogs’ 3-4 alignment out of necessity last season, when the team finished second in Class 7A.
“He’s got real good length and is obviously very strong,” Holm said. “He’s just a bull. Plus, he’s quick off the ball.”
Buckley will be replaced in the middle of Batavia’s line this season by 6-0, 265-pound transfer Malachi Smith, who moved to the area from Texas.
“He is compact, and we like to use the phrase ‘ascending strong coming off the ball,'” Holm said. “He’s able to get up and under people and push them back.
“Your nose has to eat up double teams, and Jordan gave us that last year. Now, moving out to end, teams will still have to double team him, most likely with a tight end.”
Buckley enjoyed those battles.
“It was amazing, to be honest,” he said. “If you break through, you know you just beat two of their linemen to get to the guy. You think, ‘Next time, they’re gonna need three.'”
Buckley, who had 26 tackles with seven for loss, one sack and nine quarterback hurries, wants to improve those sack numbers this season. He hopes to take aim at the program’s single-season record of 16 1/2 set by Derek Nutley in 2015.
“I’m trying to compete with my brother and sister, who both have school records in track,” he said. “I want a football one.”
Older sister Jada Jones Martin set the girls record for the discus in 2016 and Jalen established the boys record for the triple jump while winning state in 2022.
Senior middle linebacker Ben Fiegel, a Southern Illinois recruit, believes Buckley will have a big impact.
“He’s really a quiet kid who just goes to work and leads by example,” Fiegel said. “Plus, he’s got that 6-8 wingspan. He’s got like NBA length.
“I just wish he committed to SIU with me. He’s doing the right thing — always. He knows the playbook — always. He’s a great leader and is making that D-line a different beast this year.”
Buckley hopes so.
“I know we’re going to have targets after making it to the title game last year,” Buckley said. “Everybody is gonna want to hit us. We’re getting ready to hit back.”
Quick Facts
Team: Batavia.
2022 record: 10-4.
Offensive leaders: Ryan Boe, senior, quarterback; Frankie Porcaro, senior, offensive lineman; Nick Ruiz, senior, offensive lineman; Charlie Whelpley, senior, running back.
Defensive leaders: Ben Brown, senior, linebacker; Jordan Buckley, senior, defensive lineman; Ben Fiegel, senior, linebacker; Kyle Porter, senior, defensive back.
X-factor: Luke Alwin, senior, wide receiver.