Less than two years after deciding to take football seriously, Jaime Malta was an all-state player.

The Wright City senior linebacker landed on the Class 3 all-state team last season despite not playing football his freshman season.

“I didn’t like it too much my freshman year, but (Head Coach Jeff) Sargent got me excited for it my sophomore year and I started enjoying it,” Malta said. “And since then, everything has kind of clicked.”

His motivation was simple.

“I got tired of hearing about everybody else, so I worked my butt off the last two years,” he said. “I worked out 24/7 in the summer and go 110 percent every play.”

As a sophomore, Malta was fourth on the team in tackles (81), and he finished with six sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Last season he led the Wildcats with 110 tackles while also filling in at running back following the graduation of DeRenzo Blanks.

Malta led the team with 445 rushing yards.

And while his talents have helped Wright City on both sides of the ball, Malta has a clear preference.

“If I had to pick, I’d pick linebacker,” he said. “Playing running back is just something I can do, and playing both sides of the ball is fun. But linebacker is my strong point, and it’s definitely where you’ll see the most action.”

For Sargent, Malta’s presence on defense has been huge.

“He’s the leader of our defense, so he gets everyone set,” Sargent said. “He’s someone that we’re not going to be able to replace next year.”

Sargent hopes Malta’s skill set and experience can help the Wildcat defense in more ways than one this fall.

Normally a middle linebacker, Malta expects to see time at outside linebacker as a pass-rusher as well.

“I think I’m one of the best pass rushers we have, so it will be fun to rush the quarterback,” he said.

Malta suffered a toe injury in Wright City’s week one victory over Winfield last week, but he expects to be ready for Friday’s trip to Southern Boone.

A trip to South Callaway the following week marks the beginning of the Eastern Missouri Conference schedule, and Malta said his team is prepared.

“We’ve seen some great competition over the summer,” he said, “so I think we’re in the best spot out of any of the teams in our conference.”

With fewer varsity games under his belt than most recruits, Malta’s contact with college coaches came later than most.

He hopes to invite a handful of coaches to an upcoming home game, however, and he thinks he has what they are looking for.

“I talked to a coach at McKendree, and he said my size, speed and strength are all there, they just need to see more games and, hopefully, I can go there,” Malta said. “I wouldn’t mind going there, it’s a nice D-II school.”

Malta’s motivation for becoming an all-state player was notoriety.

His motivation for continuing his football career is more personal.

“I’d like to be a two-time all-state player, land five offers and become the first player in my family to go to a university,” he said. “I’m pretty confident because I feel like I’ve worked too hard not to get a look somewhere.”