Jalen Jelks is just 16, and already he’s 6-7 and 253 pounds.
His father was a college basketball player at Kentucky State, and both his parents have instilled in him the pride and work ethic of a future Division One athlete, pride that’s evident in the fierce effort he brings on every play at Desert Vista High in Phoenix, Arizona.
His verbal commitment to the Webfoots was announced Monday night by Justin Hopkins of duckterritory.com.
The most exciting thing about Jelks is, he is going to get loads better. According to Jerry Birmingham of elevenwarriors.com, Jalen has only played two years of organized football. He suffered a knee injury as a freshman, complicated by a huge growth spurt.
Desert Vista Duck: Jalen Jelks will bring the Thunder for Oregon, already working on his game with the determination to be a great football player. (elevenwarriors.com photo)
After rehab he returned for his JV season and got immediately promoted to the varsity. As a junior, he had 39 tackles and 4 sacks.
This summer Jelks has been working extra hard on his game, training with both his father and former Dallas Cowboy and Arizona Cardinals offensive guard Derek Kennard. Kennard’s son Devon is a standout linebacker at USC, so you get an idea of the football pedigree and intense competion the young Jelks is being exposed to in honing his still-developing body. The Desert High Thunder prodigy plays both ways in high school but wants to play defense as a Duck. Already he can throw up a reported 350 lbs. in the bench press and 450 lbs. in the squat.
His highlight film shows excellent agility and desire, and it’s mind-boggling to contemplate how good Jelks might become with two more years of exceptional training in Coach Jim Radcliffe’s plyometrics program. The young man choose the Ducks from 13 scholarship offers, including Arizona, Nebraska, Utah, Washington and Tennessee. He’ll get even more attention as a senior, even after announcing a verbal commitment to Oregon.
Last season Desert Valley was 9-3, losing to Hamilton High in the second round of the playoffs.
Jared Cohen of the website pros2preps.com had a great interview with Jalen, excerpted here:
Hard work definitely. You just have to stay mentally focused. If you don’t have the pride or the will power to go out and get it you’re not going to get it.
You didn’t get this big eating rice all of the time. You have to eat a lot and maintain the carbs and calories. I see myself definitely as defensive end. I play offense and I mean, I’m willing to play it, but I definitely like defense. I like hitting people and making sacks.
Here’s a look at his junior year highlights, with scouting notes to follow:
play 1 strong good lateral movement sheds a block gets to the exchange and forces a fumble. Lined up outside, which is good. Oregon likes its tackles to be versatile, able to play in space. Playing outside at this level develops his quickness. hand-fighting and pass rushing skills. Fires out of a four-point stance with explosion and good pad level.
It’s a country fumble, and a teammate picks it up for a score. After Jelks makes the hit he rolls to his feet to head upfield and join the blocking. Shows good agility and hustle, playing to the whistle, and a very high degree of desire and coachability.
:29 Weakside defensive end versus I formation set. Drop back pass roll right. He fires out into the backfield quickly. Speed rush, easily by his man, and he pursues the quarterback all the way past the far hash and stuffs him–teammates had the qb contained, and he cut off the escape route with excellent mobility.
Comes in under control and wraps up. Doesn’t let himself get slipped, pump faked or shuffle stepped. A strong, physical play, and good team defense. Has a little of the Nick Reed persistence in chasing down a play. Very promising.
:39 Spread option set trips left. Fake outside zone read left. Jelks is the read defender and he penetrates quickly, limiting the quarterback’s options from the start of the play. Aggressive. Nobody is quick enough to block him and he destroys the quarterback who throws hurriedly in the turf to avoid a sack.
Wrecks plays before they start–no hesitation. Wants the ball carrier and loves contact.
At 6-7, just 17 years old in his senior season, he has the long frame the Ducks like and room to put on strength, play at 6-8 280 with quickness. A formidable package with a big upside and great natural desire to play football and excel.
:47 3 man front opponent pinned deep. Deep Ace formation with an unbalanced line on the strong side. Inside handoff to the strong side, but Jalen blows up a DOUBLE TEAM to stuff the play for a two-yard loss. Has a reported 325 bench and 450 squat as a 16-year-old junior in high school, and that’s prodigious natural strength. After two years (summer workouts, redshirt year, spring practice and summer workouts) in Coach Rad’s training facility he could be scary.
:54 Shotgun Spread, empty backfield, 5 wides. At tackle this time. It’s a stunt, and his teammate ties up both blockers inside as Jelks loops around free. The o-lineman tries to grab jersey but it’s useless–love the way he fights through the hold. Tosses the qb down for an 8-yard sack.
Has a knack for not just getting to the quarterback but finishing the play, and that’s huge. His agility and athletic ability are big bonuses–he’s not overmatched in space the way some big guys are, and the T&C staff will build on that agility and explosiveness.
1:05 Strong side tackle, offense in a Deep Ace Formation overloaded right. In 8 plays of this highlight he’s played in 3 spots on the defensive line, and could play all four as a prep. That’s great for his skill development. Has good read-and-react instincts and plays with his motor set to 11. This is a stretch play right, and he recognizes the flow of the play, sheds one block and part of another, stuffing the ball carrier and cutting off his cutback lane. Very nice.
Plays very intelligently. He’s well-coached in high school. Understands team defense and his responsibility in a variety of situations. A great fit for Oregon. Smart, likes to run and hit, athletic, plays fast. Likely to contribute as a redshirt freshman and be in the rotation for four years. A 3-star rated athlete with a big upside.
1:10 Okay. Has outside contain on the strong side. Grabs his blocker by the shoulder pads and tosses him out of the way, puts a helmet and both arms on the ball carrier. Just the right amount of nasty in his game, carries out his assignment then delivers something extra.
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