Jalen McKenzie

BIOGRAPHY

Ja’Den McKenzie was born on February 1, 2000, in Morton, Pennsylvania. As an American football star, he swiftly made a name for himself both on the field and off, with an illustrious career that has spanned high school, university, and now his professional career in Rhode Island.

During his schooldays at Springfield High School in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania, McKenzie demonstrated his skill and passion for the game. Even as a sophomore, he managed a commendable performance on the one game he appeared, having one carry for 63 yards. Mckenzie turned heads as a junior in 2016 where he carried the ball 236 times for an impressive 1,288 yards, and also scored 12 touchdowns. His fabulous senior year in 2017 saw him run 196 times for 1,273 yards and 18 touchdowns, while he also caught 15 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2018, McKenzie committed to playing college football for Division II team, West Chester University. He spent his freshman year being redshirted, but his redshirt freshman year was nothing short of phenomenal. Mckenzie led the team in both rushing yards with 917 and total touchdowns with eleven. Notably, he set a school record for freshman rushing yards. He managed to have over 100 yards and at least one touchdown against high-profile teams like Shippensburg, Lock Haven, and Bentley.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) took note of his performance and decorations started flowing in. He ended his redshirt freshman year being named the First-Team All-PSAC East, PSAC East Freshman of the Year, Second-Team Don Hansen FB Gazette All-Super Region 1, and the Don Hansen FB Gazette Super Region 1 Freshman of the Year. His hard work was once again recognized when he was named PSAC Offensive Player of the Week after the team’s game against Shippensburg and ECAC Rookie of the Month in October.

However, the year 2020 posed a stumbling block, when the PSAC postponed the season to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and West Chester opted out of participating. McKenzie’s prowess did not diminish in any way. In fact, his redshirt sophomore season saw him lead all Eastern Division runners with 980 rushing yards. He gifted West Chester with a conference-leading ground game due to his most rushing touchdowns in the conference.

In 2022, as a redshirt Junior, McKenzie continued his third straight season as a leader by rushing for 706 yards and leading his team with seven rushing touchdowns. He made his mark in West Chester history, finishing ranked eighth all-time in career rushing touchdowns with 30, tenth all-time in touchdowns scored with 32, and twelfth all-time in career rushing yards with 2,603.

With his history of impressive performance and strong reputation, it should come as no surprise that on December 19, 2022, McKenzie announced his commitment to play for Rhode Island. As the newest member of the Rhode Island football team, McKenzie offers an excellent addition to the overall squad, providing yet another shining example of what hard work, perseverance, and tenacity can achieve.

From his formative years at Springfield High School to his distinguished college football tenure with the West Chester Golden Rams, through to his emerging professional career with Rhode Island, McKenzie has continually established himself as an exceptional and accomplished athlete, setting a precedent for young aspirants in the world of American football.