Jalen Schultz '23 Recruiting Profile

JALEN SCHULTZ * QB * Class of 2023

One of my primary goals in life is to be the very best at everything I do. Whether it is playing football or working as a cashier, I simply want to be the best. My parents instilled this drive in me from the beginning. Right now, I am not really sure what type of career I will choose to pursue, but I know that I want to do something that interests me and that I will enjoy doing. Furthering my football career will likely help introduce me to a number of different potential career fields. Obviously, I also just LOVE football, and I feel like I have the potential to be pretty good at it too. No matter what level I reach, I'm sure that football will always be a part of my life.

I am a 6'0" Quarterback at Dixie High School. My best qualities are that I play hard every second that I'm on the field and that I am a natural leader (on and off the field). I have a strong arm, good vision, and a high football IQ. I made the difficult decision to step away from basketball during my freshman season so I could focus more on football. I have spent that extra time working very hard on my QB skills, particularly on my throwing technique and my speed (I also train with the track team during the Spring). I'm proud to say that the hard work has paid off, as I have already seen improvement in both my speed and my passing accuracy. My biggest strengths aren't always measured by stats. As the son of a coach, I enjoy studying the game. I always make sure to know the offense inside and out, including what the other ten players are supposed to be doing. I also have a very good understanding of the game plans and the offensive schemes that the coaches are trying to run, which helps me make sure everyone knows what they need to do. I definitely try to be as versatile a QB as possible. Although our offense is primarily a Spread offense, at times I am asked to run the Option, the Read Option, and quite a bit of RPO's. To me, the most important part of playing QB is being willing and able to make the right football decision at any given moment, whether that means I need to hand the ball off, pass the ball, keep the ball, throw the ball away, call a timeout, or even just take the sack. I just want to make the right play at every opportunity. I believe that this translates into winning football games.

The thing that separates me from others the most is the drive that I possess. It's hard to explain, but I take failure very personal. For example, if our offense doesn't score, I take it personal. I used to get angry or upset in these situations, and my father would tell me, "Don't get mad...get better." This always stuck with me. As I've gotten older, I've learned to harness this energy and focus it on ensuring that I do everything within my control to make sure my team is successful. More importantly, I've learned that the rest of the offense follows the lead of the QB, so I have to stay positive. Above all though, I love to compete, and I want to compete at the highest level. My drive is what pushes me to reach higher and higher. For better or worse, I have an obsession with success...on and off the field. I understand that everyone loves success, but I think what makes me different is that I enjoy the process. I know that success is the result of hard work, and I think it is the work that I actually enjoy the most.

Outside of football, I am a really nice guy and one of the most popular kids at my school. I believe this is because I genuinely care about other people, and I tend to fit in well with every social group. I have been told that I am very easy to talk to and that I am a good listener. This helps me socially, but also in the classroom. I usually pick up and understand new topics quickly. My GPA is currently sitting at 3.46, and my best subject is History. My worst subject is Math. I struggle at times remembering certain formulas for different equations; however, knowing that this is my weakest area, I give it the extra attention it needs to be successful. Just as I do on the field, I enjoy being a leader off the field as well. As crazy as it sounds, I am not afraid of the responsibility that comes with leadership. Actually, I embrace it. I want the best for the people that I care about, and if I can help them be successful, I feel like it is my responsibility to do just that.