I’ve written about Mankato West’s fantastic rising senior WR Jalen Smith Jalen Smith 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Mankato West | 2024 State MN a couple of times recently, so I’ll keep this one shorter to not repeat myself. However, that’s easier said than done, as Smith is the most recent Minnesota addition to the P5 scene and has seen his stock soar like a 747 this offseason. A large part of it is due to the noteworthy and impressive 10.87 100M time he clocked in the middle of April, which verifies the speed and playmaking ability he showed from his junior campaign that saw him finish with 49 catches for 729 yards and 8 TDs. Less than a week after he posted that standout 100M time, Kent State offered an FBS scholarship, which preceded Iowa State and North Dakota State throwing their names in the mix with official offers. Those are three great first offers, and I hope Smith, as well as the Mankato West program, are excited about his current standing as well as his future as a college prospect. It’s not like the wideout came out of nowhere, as he had previously visited Minnesota and Iowa State for unofficial visits, and the Bison have been in contact since the 2022 season ended as well. However, recruiting interest & graphics are far from an actual offer, and Smith now falls into the hard-to-earn latter category. In addition to the speed, Smith is a natural at creating separation as a route runner, both in his releases and at the top of the route, and has ball skills, shake after the catch, and an overall advanced, balanced, and refined skillset for a prep wideout going into his senior year. I’m eagerly following this recruitment and he’ll continue to raise his stock going forward. I guarantee it!

Coming out of my home state of Minnesota and perennial 5A contender Mankato West, 6’1, 185 lb. WR Jalen Smith is the second-newest addition to the FBS and/or P5 recruiting scene on this list. Although he’s currently under-ranked on PRzMN, which I take responsibility for, but it’s hard to measure speed on tape, and that’s exactly what Smith’s recruitment going this spring. In the first track meet of the year for the Scarlets, Smith clocked a blazing 10.87 100M dash time for some verified and eye-popping speed that lit the fire under his recruitment’s wheels and got the steam engine churning upwards. Six days after he posted the track time, Smith received his first offer from Kent State and WR coach Nick Faus, which prompted Iowa State to throw a Big12 P5 offer in the mix, which was followed by a North Dakota State scholarship. He’s got a RS freshman teammate currently in Fargo, so keep an eye on the Bison here, but I get the feeling we’re still at the beginning of his budding recruitment and I’m strapped in and along for the ride. Natural and impressive at creating separation, both in his releases and at the top of the route, Smith can drop his hips, break off his routes, and bait DBs into opening their hips & taking his eyes off him, which is when he makes them pay. He also has the speed to take the top off the defense, has some shake after the catch, and displays some ball skills and concentration when the rock is in the air. I’m pumped this dude proved me wrong, and in my defense I was right in the thick of three straight days of watching 2024 film, so I think things just got jumbled together. Boy do I feel silly now!

Another high-potential, must-know name out of the 2024 class, Mankato West’s 6’1, 185 lb. WR and CB Jalen Smith is fresh off the invite-only Minnesota Gophers junior day from this past weekend and also saw his recruitment officially kick off earlier this month with MSU-Mankato and Sioux Falls offers. Smith also attended Iowa State’s junior day in early March. Also a standout member of the Scarlet’s track and field squad who competes in the 200, 4×1, and 4×2, Smith posted 49 catches for 729 yards and 8 TDs as a junior and displayed twitch and timing in his excellent releases at the LOS when facing press coverage. He can drop his hips and break off his routes and cuts smoothly and impressively, and shows off soft hands, concentration, and ball skills when reeling in tough catches with DBs bearing down on him. Also put some dirty moves on would-be tacklers after the catch as well. This dude is under-ranked right now (my fault) and will see a significant climb in the rankings in an upcoming micro-update. Keep it up, Jalen!