Photo by: Parker Waters
A Family Affair
Apr 12, 2019 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane football secondary coach J.J. McCleskey was absolutely crushed on the night of August 30, 2018, and for good reason.
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That night, the Green Wave football team dropped an absolute heartbreaker to Wake Forest in its 2018 season opener, falling 23-17 in overtime. He also missed his son Jalen – an Oklahoma State wide receiver – haul in six receptions and score three touchdowns as the Cowboys defeated Missouri State that same night.
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After the Green Wave's loss to Wake Forest, J.J. got his wife's iPad and managed to watch Jalen's highlights. J.J. had rarely – if ever – missed one of his son's games.
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That was last year. J.J. can't guarantee the Green Wave won't lose another season opener in 2019, but now he can guarantee he will never miss another one of his son's college games.
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This offseason, Tulane added Jalen McCleskey to the team's offensive arsenal, giving the Green Wave another game-breaking wide receiver to go alongside last year's leading receiver, senior Darnell Mooney.
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In four years at Oklahoma State, Jalen made more than a name for himself as he totaled 167 career receptions for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns. He currently ranks sixth all-time in receptions and ninth in touchdown catches at OSU.
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"Being able to see [my father] every day and just being able to talk to him has really been great," Jalen said. "Being close to home and being able to go home on the weekends has also been great."
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Although seeing his dad every day at practice has been great for Jalen, he also knows the time is now for the Green Wave.
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"We really want to win," Jalen said. "I feel like this team and teams in the future will be able to change stuff around here. Last year they started it off, and this year I think we are just going to keep going up from here."
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In being the new kid on the block for the Green Wave, Jalen has worked hard to establish a strong relationship with returning starting quarterback Justin McMillian.
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"It is for sure going well," Jalen said. "During winter workouts, all the receivers and quarterbacks would go and throw on Saturdays. We have all been working on our chemistry and how we do stuff."
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Throughout spring camp, Jalen has been impressed with McMillan's ability to get the ball in playmakers' hands.
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"I feel like he wants to make plays," Jalen said. "We are still working on things, but I like how he just always wants to make plays. He wants to make sure that he gets the ball into the playmakers' hands whether it is me, Mooney, or the running backs. That is what I really like about him."
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Jalen also has been impressed with the team's new offensive philosophy under the direction of first-year offensive coordinator and has high hopes for the team's offensive unit this fall.
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"This offense is going to be really fun to play in," Jalen said. "He [Hall] comes every day to practice with the same energy. I just like how we have different types of formations and different types of sets. We do different things. It is going to be a really fun offense to play in."
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That night, the Green Wave football team dropped an absolute heartbreaker to Wake Forest in its 2018 season opener, falling 23-17 in overtime. He also missed his son Jalen – an Oklahoma State wide receiver – haul in six receptions and score three touchdowns as the Cowboys defeated Missouri State that same night.
Â
After the Green Wave's loss to Wake Forest, J.J. got his wife's iPad and managed to watch Jalen's highlights. J.J. had rarely – if ever – missed one of his son's games.
Â
That was last year. J.J. can't guarantee the Green Wave won't lose another season opener in 2019, but now he can guarantee he will never miss another one of his son's college games.
Â
This offseason, Tulane added Jalen McCleskey to the team's offensive arsenal, giving the Green Wave another game-breaking wide receiver to go alongside last year's leading receiver, senior Darnell Mooney.
Â
In four years at Oklahoma State, Jalen made more than a name for himself as he totaled 167 career receptions for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns. He currently ranks sixth all-time in receptions and ninth in touchdown catches at OSU.
Â
"Being able to see [my father] every day and just being able to talk to him has really been great," Jalen said. "Being close to home and being able to go home on the weekends has also been great."
Â
Although seeing his dad every day at practice has been great for Jalen, he also knows the time is now for the Green Wave.
Â
"We really want to win," Jalen said. "I feel like this team and teams in the future will be able to change stuff around here. Last year they started it off, and this year I think we are just going to keep going up from here."
Â
In being the new kid on the block for the Green Wave, Jalen has worked hard to establish a strong relationship with returning starting quarterback Justin McMillian.
Â
"It is for sure going well," Jalen said. "During winter workouts, all the receivers and quarterbacks would go and throw on Saturdays. We have all been working on our chemistry and how we do stuff."
Â
Throughout spring camp, Jalen has been impressed with McMillan's ability to get the ball in playmakers' hands.
Â
"I feel like he wants to make plays," Jalen said. "We are still working on things, but I like how he just always wants to make plays. He wants to make sure that he gets the ball into the playmakers' hands whether it is me, Mooney, or the running backs. That is what I really like about him."
Â
Jalen also has been impressed with the team's new offensive philosophy under the direction of first-year offensive coordinator and has high hopes for the team's offensive unit this fall.
Â
"This offense is going to be really fun to play in," Jalen said. "He [Hall] comes every day to practice with the same energy. I just like how we have different types of formations and different types of sets. We do different things. It is going to be a really fun offense to play in."
Players Mentioned
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