Jalen Wydermyer

BIOGRAPHY

Jalen Wydermyer, born on December 20, 2000, is an accomplished American professional football tight end. His journey, marked with laudable records while being a student-athlete, led him to pursue a professional career in the National Football League (NFL). Currently a free agent, his story starts in Dickinson, Texas where he was born and raised.

As the native of Dickinson, Texas, Wydermyer’s passion for football was ignited at Dickinson High School. During his senior year, he showcased impressive stats, catching 42 passes and covering an impressive distance of 875 yards. With his competencies in all aspects of the tight end position, he managed to score 10 touchdowns and was rated a four-star recruit. His exceptional abilities opened multiple doors, and Wydermyer ultimately decided to commit to Texas A&M, choosing it over Miami.

Upon arriving at Texas A&M, Wydermyer was thrust into a larger role within the team’s offense than initially anticipated. A fellow freshman, Baylor Cupp, suffered a season-ending injury during the final stages of training camp, calling for Wydermyer to step up. Despite the unforeseen shift in responsibilities, he finished his first season with an excellent record of 32 catches, which covered 447 yards and resulted in six touchdowns. His remarkable performance didn’t go unnoticed as he was designated to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team and also received second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press.

Heading into his sophomore year, Wydermyer was selected to be a part of the preseason All-SEC team and added to the Mackey Award watchlist due to his distinguished first year. Progressing into the 2020 season, he reaffirmed his place as a valuable asset for the team by being honored with second-team all-SEC merits.

During the 2021 season, Wydermyer further built upon his record with 40 catches amounting to 515 yards. Such compelling statistics brought him recognition as a finalist for the revered John Mackey Award for the second time. However, Trey McBride took home the 2021 award. After evaluating his impressive college football track record and potential career trajectory, Wydermyer chose to forgo his last year of eligibility, declaring for the 2022 NFL draft instead. He left Texas A&M a record holder, leading among tight ends in terms of career receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches.

Wydermyer stepped into his professional football journey with the Buffalo Bills, signing as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. However, the Bills released him three months later on August 14. It did not take long for him to find a new home, as he signed with the New England Patriots just four days later on August 18. With the Patriots, Wydermyer was waived before the end of the month and assigned to the practice squad on August 30. His journey with the Patriots, unfortunately, came to an end three weeks later when he was released on September 20.

Continuing his professional career, Wydermyer was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad about a month later on October 17, 2022. However, his association with Colts ceased on May 4, 2023. As of writing this, Jalen Wydermyer, the promising tight end with a record-breaking college football history, is a free agent, waiting for the next chapter in his professional football career to commence.