Jalen Catalon
{{Short description|American football player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
|name=Jalen Catalon
|image_size=
|caption=
|school=Missouri Tigers
|image=
|currentnumber=1
|currentposition=Defensive back
|class= Senior
|major= Sociology
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|2001|3|15}}
|birth_place=Mansfield, Texas, U.S.
|heightft=5
|heightin=11
|weight=205
|highschool=Mansfield Legacy
(Mansfield, Texas)
|bowlgames=
|pastschools=
|highlights=
|espn=4567148
}}
Jalen Catalon (born March 15, 2001) is an American college football safety and defensive back for the Missouri Tigers. He previously played for the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas Longhorns.
Early life
Catalon grew up in Mansfield, Texas and attended Mansfield Legacy High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football.{{cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/sports/20180706/the-dotted-line-jalen-catalon-talks-two-sport-possibilities-at-texas|title=Jalen Catalon talks two-sport possibilities at Texas|work=Austin American-Statesman|date=July 6, 2018|access-date=September 16, 2021}} As a sophomore, he recorded 183 total tackles with seven tackles for loss and nine interceptions.{{cite web|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/dfwvarsity/prep-football/article149407384.html|title=TCU offers Mansfield Legacy’s Jalen Catalon|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=December 13, 2017|access-date=September 16, 2021}} Catalon was named the All-Area Defensive Player of the Year by The Dallas Morning News as a junior after recording 101 tackles, three interceptions, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/feb/06/4-star-safety-jalen-catalon-inks-arkansas/|title=4-star safety Jalen Catalon inks with Arkansas|work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|date=February 6, 2019|access-date=September 16, 2021}} He also started at quarterback and passed for 1,122 yards and 15 touchdowns with 1,064 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing ad Mansfield Legacy advanced to the 5A Division II state semifinals.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2018/01/12/mansfield-legacy-ath-jalen-catalon-named-2017-sportsdayhs-defensive-player-of-the-year/|title=Mansfield Legacy ATH Jalen Catalon named 2017 SportsDayHS Defensive Player of the Year|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=January 11, 2018|access-date=September 16, 2021}} Catalon suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of his senior season.{{cite web|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/dfwvarsity/article217858225.html|title=Mansfield Legacy’s 4-star safety Jalen Catalon will miss the rest of the season|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=September 5, 2018|access-date=September 16, 2021}} Catalon was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Arkansas over offers from Oklahoma, TCU and Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2019/01/18/mansfield-legacy-four-star-s-jalen-catalon-commits-to-arkansas-i-ve-found-my-home/|title=Mansfield Legacy four-star S Jalen Catalon commits to Arkansas|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=September 16, 2021}}
College career
Catalon redshirted his true freshman season at Arkansas after appearing in four games.{{cite web|url=https://www.nwahomepage.com/sports/pig-trail-nation/redshirt-freshman-jalen-catalon-making-most-of-opportunity-pleased-to-be-healthy-again/|title=Redshirt Freshman Jalen Catalon Making Most of Opportunity, Pleased to be Healthy Again|first=Otis|last=Kirk|website=NWAHomepage.com|date=September 5, 2020|access-date=September 16, 2021}} He became a starter going into his redshirt freshman season and recorded 99 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 7 pass breakups and was named first team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) by the Associated Press and a freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.{{cite web|url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/aug/24/catalon-thankful-for-honor/|title=Catalon thankful for honor|work=The Northwest Arkansas Times|date=August 24, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jan/19/catalon-receives-another-accolade/|title=Catalon receives another accolade|work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|date=January 19, 2021|access-date=September 16, 2021}}
In 2023 he transferred to Texas where he played in 8 games.{{cite web |title=Jalen Catalon |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jalen-catalon-1.html |access-date=31 December 2024}}
On December 4, 2023, Catalon entered the transfer portal for the second time and on January 6, 2024, he transferred to UNLV.{{cite web|url=https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/news/former-texas-safety-jalen-catalon-commits-to-unlv/|title=Former Texas safety Jalen Catalon commits to UNLV|website=On3.com|first=Griffin|last=McVeigh|date=January 6, 2024|access-date=January 8, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/texas/football/texas-longhorns-safety-jalen-catalon-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal|title=Texas Longhorns Safety Jalen Catalon Enters NCAA Transfer Portal|website=Sports Illustrated|first=Matt|last=Galatzan|date=December 4, 2023|access-date=December 20, 2023}} At UNLV he played in 14 games and led the Mountain West Conference in interceptions(5), interception yards(95) and interception TDs(1).
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/jalen-catalon/ Arkansas Razorbacks bio]
- [https://texassports.com/sports/football/roster/jalen-catalon/12574 Texas Longhorns bio]
- [https://unlvrebels.com/sports/football/roster/jalen-catalon/16205 UNLV Rebels bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Catalon, Jalen}}
Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football players
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:American football safeties
Category:Players of American football from Mansfield, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Ellis County, Texas