INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Quincy senior defensive lineman Jaylin Vaughn capped off his final season in the Brown & Gold with the league's highest individual defensive honor, being named the 2025 GLVC Defensive Player of the Year. Vaughn becomes just the second Hawk ever to claim the conference's top defensive award, joining former All-American linebacker Cody Leonard, who earned the distinction in 2018. He is also only the third player in program history to capture one of the GLVC's four major conference awards, a testament to his impact, consistency, and leadership within a resurgent QU defense.

Vaughn put together a monster senior season that routinely saw him disrupt game plans and swing momentum with timely plays. He finished tied for second in the GLVC in both forced fumbles (3) and fumble recoveries (2), while ranking third in sacks (7) and sixth in tackles for loss (12.0). His 57 total tackles, 29 solo and 28 assisted, were fourth on the Hawks and the most among QU defensive linemen, underscoring his ability to command attention at the line of scrimmage while still producing at a high level. In one of the most memorable moments of the season, Vaughn even made an impact on the offensive side of the ball, punching in a two-yard rushing touchdown out of the wildcat formation on Senior Day against Southwest Baptist.

His postseason honors extended beyond the top defensive award, as Vaughn was also selected to the GLVC First Team All-Conference, marking back-to-back All-Conference seasons following his Second Team nod in 2023. His steady rise over the past three seasons has made him one of the most respected interior defenders in the region and a cornerstone of Quincy's defensive identity.

Across his three-year QU career after transferring from Ellsworth Community College, Vaughn appeared in 25 games and compiled an impressive statistical résumé. He totaled 92 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. More than the numbers, Vaughn became a staple on the defensive line, a player coaches trusted in big moments, and a leader whose physicality and motor set the tone each week.

With his name now etched alongside Quincy's all-time greats, Vaughn's legacy is firmly cemented as one of the most dominant defensive forces to ever wear the uniform.