Jaylen McCollough
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jaylen McCollough
| currentteam = Los Angeles Rams
| number = 2
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|10|12}}
| birth_place = Austell, Georgia, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 202
| high_school = Hillgrove {{nowrap|(Powder Springs, Georgia)}}
| college = Tennessee (2019–2023)
| undraftedyear = 2024
| pastteams =
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| statweek = 18
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 43
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 4
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 = 4
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 = 1
| status = Active
| pfr = McCoJa02
}}
Jaylen "Tank" McCollough (born October 12, 2000) is an American professional football safety for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Early life
McCollough attended Hillgrove High School located in Powder Springs, Georgia. Coming out of high school, McCollough was rated as a four-star recruit, where he held offers from schools such as Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, and Tennessee.{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Phil |title=Tennessee football: Who is freshman Jaylen McCollough? Nickname is 'Tank' |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2019/04/13/tennessee-football-who-freshman-jaylen-mccollough-nickname-tank/3462007002/ |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=13 April 2019 |access-date=25 August 2024}} Ultimately, McCollough committed to play college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.{{cite web |title=Tennessee-bound Jaylen McCollough ready to compete with the best at UA All-America Game |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2018/tennessee-bound-jaylen-mccollough-ready-to-compete-with-the-best-at-ua-all-america-game |website=USA Today |date=24 October 2018 |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Mike |title=UT Vols: Jaylen McCollough commits to Tennessee football, Jeremy Pruitt |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2018/08/17/tennessee-vols-football-jaylen-mccullough-commitment-jeremy-pruitt-recruiting/1018060002/ |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=17 August 2018 |access-date=25 August 2024}}
College career
McCollough's best season came in 2023 when he started all 13 games for the Volunteers, notching 58 tackles and three interceptions, with one being for a touchdown, where after the conclusion of the season he declared for the 2024 NFL draft.{{cite web |last1=Kellar |first1=Liz |last2=Sparks |first2=Adam |title=Tennessee football's Jaylen McCollough gets probation in assault case |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/02/15/jaylen-mccollugh-tennessee-football-diversion-assault-nfl-draft/72568742007/ |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=15 February 2024 |access-date=25 August 2024}} McCollough finished his five-year career from 2019 to 2023 with the Volunteers playing in 60 games where he started in a school record 51 of them, totaling 242 tackles with 15.5 being for a loss, two sacks, 16 pass deflections, six interceptions, a forced fumble, and a touchdown.{{cite web |title=Jaylen McCollough - Football - Tennessee Athletics |url=https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/jaylen-mccollough/19020 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Low |first1=Chris |title=Sources - Vols' Jaylen McCollough cleared to play after arrest |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/34893056/sources-vols-jaylen-mccollough-cleared-play-arrest |website=ESPN |date=28 October 2022 |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Polacek |first=Scott |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Tennessee Starting Safety Jaylen McCollough Arrested on Felony Assault Charge |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10051866-tennessee-starting-safety-jaylen-mccollough-arrested-on-felony-assault-charge |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=Bleacher Report}}{{cite magazine |last1=Ezman |first1=Alfred |title=Jaylen McCollough Needs To Assume Larger Role For Tennessee |url=https://www.si.com/college/tennessee/football/jaylen-mccollough-needs-to-assume-larger-role-for-tennessee |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=7 August 2023 |access-date=25 August 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0
| weight = 202
| dash = 4.74
| ten split = 1.62
| twenty split = 2.65
| shuttle = 4.58
| cone drill = 7.52
| vertical = 32
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 7
| bench = 17
| arm span = 31 1/2
| hand span = 8 3/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1029914&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Jaylen McCollough College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=August 19, 2024}}
}}
After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, McCollough signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent.{{cite web |last1=Morrison |first1=Dan |title=Report: Jaylen McCollough agrees to UDFA deal with Los Angeles Rams |url=https://www.on3.com/pro/news/tennesee-volunteers-jaylen-mccollough-agrees-to-udfa-deal-with-los-angeles-rams/ |website=On3.com |date=28 April 2024 |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Vierra |first1=Brock |title=Jaylen McCollough is a sleeper to make Rams' roster entering preseason finale |url=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/23/rams-jaylen-mccollough-roster-sleeper-texans/ |website=Rams Wire |date=23 August 2024 |access-date=25 August 2024}} He was one of four UDFAs signed by the Rams to make the team's initial 53 man roster.{{cite web | last=DaSilva | first=Cameron | title=Five undrafted rookies made Rams' 53-man roster, all on defense | website=Rams Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2024-08-27 | url=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/27/rams-roster-undrafted-rookies-defense-2024/ | access-date=2024-09-13}}
McCollough intercepted his first pass, thrown by quarterback Jordan Love on October 6th, 2024, which he returned 4 yards for his first NFL career touchdown during the Rams’ Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers.{{Cite web |last=Barshop |first=Sarah |date=6 October 2024 |title=Rams' Jaylen McCollough snags pick 6 and TD |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41646679/los-angeles-rams-jaylen-mccollough-pick-six-green-bay-packers |access-date=7 October 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}
Personal life
On October 10, 2022, McCollough was arrested on felony assault charges, after a man allegedly entered McCollough's apartment by accident, where McCullough proceeded to punch him causing him to lose consciousness.{{cite web |last1=Schlabach |first1=Matt |title=Vols' Jaylen McCollough arrested on felony assault charges |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/34768030/tennessee-volunteers-starting-safety-jaylen-mccollough-arrested-felony-aggravated-assault |website=ESPN |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Sparks |first1=Adam |title=Tennessee football's Jaylen McCollough arrested on felony assault charge |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2022/10/10/jaylen-mccollough-arrested-tennessee-football-felony-assault-charge/69526860007/ |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=25 August 2024}} On June 16, 2023, McCollough was officially indicted on a felony aggravated charge where he faced a 3 to 15-year prison sentence.{{cite web |last1=Kellar |first1=Liz |title=Jaylen McCollough indicted: Tennessee football DB faces aggravated assault charge |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/06/16/tennessee-football-jaylen-mccollough-indicted-on-aggravated-assault-charge/70329232007/ |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=16 June 2023 |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Hannah |date=June 16, 2023 |title=UT football captain indicted in October 2022 assault case |url=https://www.wate.com/news/knox-county-news/ut-football-captain-indicted-in-october-2022-assault-case/ |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=WATE6}} On September 13, 2023, McCollough's trial date was set to begin on February 12, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Kellar |first1=Liz |last2=Sparks |first2=Adam |title=Tennessee safety Jaylen McCollough faces February trial date in assault case |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/09/13/tennessee-safety-jaylen-mccollough-faces-february-trial-date/70835988007/ |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=13 September 2023 |access-date=25 August 2024}} On February 9, 2024, McCollough pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge where he was put on probation for a year and ordered to pay $22,000 to the victim.{{cite web |last1=North |first1=John |title=Jaylen McCollough placed on diversion after pleading to misdemeanor assault in 2022 Fort Sanders incident |url=https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/jaylen-mccollough-placed-on-diversion-after-pleading-to-misdemeanor-assault-in-2022-fort-sanders-incident/51-4bb23eb8-9286-4369-a089-05257a51ab46 |website=WBIR.com |date=9 February 2024 |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Morgan-Rumsey |first1=Camruinn |title=Former Tennessee football player pleads guilty in assault case, chargers diverted |url=https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/02/16/former-tennessee-football-player-pleads-guilty-assault-case-charges-diverted/ |website=WVLT |date=16 February 2024 |access-date=25 August 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|Jay_Mccollough2}}
- {{Instagram|Jay_Mccollough2}}
- [https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/jaylen-mccollough/19020 Tennessee Volunteers bio]
- [https://www.therams.com/team/players-roster/jaylen-mccollough/ Los Angeles Rams bio]
{{Los Angeles Rams roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCollough, Jaylen}}
Category:Players of American football from Austell, Georgia
Category:American football safeties