Jalen Pickens '19 Recruiting Profile

My name is Jalen Pickens, and I consider myself different among many athletes around the world. I believe I am unique due to my work ethic and personal drive. I am very willing to learn. I come from a line of many athletes in my family. My Dad is one of them. He was an athlete that received a scholarship and played at a Division I school, Texas Southern. He was chosen to be recruited by many other schools at a high level. I have a few cousins that played in the NBA and NFL. I consider my bloodline strong. I honestly fell in love with the sport when I was in 7th grade because that’s when I started. My 7th grade year, I was sloppy and didn’t know a single thing, but it didn’t change my feel for the game. All of my passion for the game came together in my 8th grade year when I would rush for 5 touch downs every game. My Mom would say “I would turn around for a second and I would hear your name being called for scoring.” When I got in high school, I was put on the developmental squad because I wasn’t seen as good enough…until that day came. I don’t forget where they placed me amongst the rest. I worked hard in the gym, day in and day out. I wanted to gain speed, strength, and power. I wanted to prove I was worthy. Anything I needed to fine tune my game, I was ready to work for it. I convinced my parents to buy equipment so I could do footwork on my personal time to include the weekends and early mornings. I look back to my freshman year and think “well look at me now”. With hard work and practice, I have managed to climb my way to the top of my team. I am humbled and honored. My teammates are my brothers. Now I’m a Varsity Starter in my junior year. Time flew when I grind and out-worked everyone in the weight room. I made sure I was the first one on the field, and made sure I was definitely the last because I never want to be seen as the weakest link ever again. I’m one of the fastest runners actually second to one of our others I run a 11.9-100, 23.5-200, my 40 yd- dash is a 4.6. I’ve been on Varsity for track all my high school career. Academically, I’m always focused in the classroom. If something is not right with my grades or I don’t like what I see, I always go see my teachers so I can pull it up. I find anything below a B+ unacceptable. My GPA is 3.5, I’m always on time to class, I take two college classes and two senior classes already. I’m not expected to have many core classes my senior year. I received two Presidential Student-Athlete awards for my grades in class. I have a lot of volunteer hours. I have helped the community a lot, but mostly because I enjoy it, not because I have to. I have given my time to repaint our stadium, I have raised money to give backpacks to families who can’t afford them, and I helped my church out with many events in the past. I am disciplined and mentally tough. I push through, but try hard to take care of my body. I can take orders and do what is asked of me. I’m a very quick learner. I’m a great leader, but I can follow when instructed to. As a young man, and the oldest male of my five siblings, my parents taught me to be a leader and not to be a follower. I should always create my own path and to not wait for someone to make a path for you. My parents have served honorably in the military, and I want to make them proud. Hopefully, you will consider me to be a part of your team and football family.