{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Jaelen Strong | image = Jalen Strong.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Strong at Cleveland Browns training camp in 2019 | current_team = | number = 11, 10 | position = Wide receiver | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|1|25|mf=y}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lbs = 220 | high_school = West Catholic {{nowrap|(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)}} | college = {{ubl|Pierce College (2011–2012)|Arizona State (2013–2014)}} | draftyear = 2015 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 70 | pastteams = * Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2017}}) * Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2017}}) * Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2019}})* | status = | highlights = * First-team All-Pac-12 (2014) * Second-team All-Pac-12 (2013) | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 31 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 330 | statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue3 = 4 | pfr = StroJa01 }}
'''Jaelen Strong''' (born January 25, 1994)<ref>[http://rotoviz.com/2015/01/amari-cooper-2015-nfl-draft-age-database/ The 2015 NFL Draft Age Database]</ref> is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
==Early life== Strong's father, John Rankin, played college basketball at Drexel and died of leukemia in 2003 when Strong was 9.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Mike |date=October 20, 2013 |title=Jaelen Strong, son of ex-Drexel star, finds success at Arizona St. |url=http://articles.philly.com/2013-10-20/sports/43201951_1_arizona-state-text-messages-philadelphia-police-department |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913150549/http://articles.philly.com/2013-10-20/sports/43201951_1_arizona-state-text-messages-philadelphia-police-department |archive-date=2014-09-13 |website=Philly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>[http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/20130918asu-footballs-jaelen-strong-happy-after-long-road-tempe.html ASU football's Jaelen Strong happy after long road to Tempe]</ref> Strong attended West Catholic Preparatory High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he played football and ran track. As a junior, he caught 24 passes for 385 yards with four touchdowns. As a senior, he had 17 receptions for 318 yards and four touchdowns. He had scholarship offers from Eastern Michigan, Villanova and VMI before opting to attend Pierce College.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesundevils.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30300&ATCLID=207911647|title = Jaelen Strong - Football}}</ref> In track & field, Strong posted personal-bests of 6.42 meters (20-11.5) in the long jump and 12.42 meters (40-6.5) in the triple jump.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pa.milesplit.com/athletes/614629-jaelen-rankin-strong/feed#.VJ653P84CA|title = Jaelen Rankin-Strong - Feed}}</ref>
==College career== Strong attended Los Angeles Pierce College for two years before transferring to Arizona State University.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/strong-as-advertised-in-asu-debut-but-wants-more-091213 Strong as advertised in ASU debut but wants more]</ref> At Pierce in 2012, he had 67 receptions for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games. In his first season at Arizona State in 2013, he had 75 receptions for 1,122 yards and seven touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Doug |date=2014-08-10 |title=ASU wide receiver Jaelen Strong's game has improved 'everywhere' |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2014/08/09/asu-football-wr-jaelen-strong-improved-everywhere/13847175/ |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=The Arizona Republic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Doug |date=2014-07-26 |title=ASU football WR Jaelen Strong comes back stronger |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2014/07/25/asu-football-wr-jaelen-strong-comes-back-stronger/13198809/ |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=The Arizona Republic}}</ref> In 2014, he had 82 receptions for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns.
After his junior season, Strong entered the 2015 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonagura |first=Kyle |date=2014-12-22 |title=Arizona State WR Strong declares for draft |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2015/story/_/id/12068574/2015-nfl-draft-jaelen-strong-arizona-state-sun-devils-enters-draft |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Doug |date=2014-12-22 |title=ASU receiver Jaelen Strong declares for the NFL draft |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2014/12/22/jaelen-strong-announces-hes-leaving-asu-for-nfl-draft/20781039/ |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=The Arizona Republic}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===Pre-draft=== Coming into the draft, Strong was ranked by some analysts as a late first-round prospect.<ref>{{cite news |last=Casserly |first=Charley |date=April 27, 2015 |title=Mock Draft 3.0: Two CBs go in top 14 |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/charley-casserly/270700 |work=NFL.com |access-date=May 20, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Baldinger |first=Brian |date=April 24, 2015 |title=Mock Draft 3.0: Eagles deal up for Mariota |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/brian-baldinger/245614 |work=NFL.com |access-date=May 20, 2015 }}</ref> He had been criticized for his lack of vertical speed, but surprised many with a 4.44 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.<ref name="combine">{{cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Kevin |date=February 21, 2015 |title=Jaelen Strong makes scouts look silly in NFL combine |url=http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/nfl-draft-combine-jaelen-strong-first-round-pick-022115 |work=FOX Sports Arizona |access-date=May 20, 2015 }}</ref> His vertical jump of 42 inches was the 4th best among wide receivers over the past ten years.<ref name="combine"/> {{nfl predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 2+3/8 | weight = 217 | dash = 4.44 | ten split = 1.57 | twenty split = 2.59 | shuttle = 4.19 | cone drill = 7.33 | vertical = 42 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 3 | bench = 14 | wonderlic = 22 | arm span = 32+1/2 | hand span = 9 | note = All values from NFL Combine }}
===Houston Texans=== Strong was selected by the Houston Texans with the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2015 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2015/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Texans traded with the New York Jets for the pick, giving away their own third round pick (82nd overall, Jets picked Lorenzo Mauldin), their fifth round pick (152nd overall, Jets picked Jarvis Harrison), a seventh round pick via the Cleveland Browns (229th overall, Jets traded pick to Jacksonville Jaguars), and wide receiver DeVier Posey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houstontexans.com/news/article-2/Texans-trade-again-draft-WR-Jaelen-Strong-in-3rd-round/85119ead-1d39-45dc-ae22-87f97e7520ef|title=Texans trade again, draft WR Jaelen Strong in 3rd round|first=Deepi|last=Sidhu|work=HoustonTexans.com|date=May 1, 2015|access-date=May 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505054908/http://www.houstontexans.com/news/article-2/Texans-trade-again-draft-WR-Jaelen-Strong-in-3rd-round/85119ead-1d39-45dc-ae22-87f97e7520ef|archive-date=May 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Against the Indianapolis Colts on October 8, 2015, he made his first two career receptions, both for touchdowns; the first was on a 42-yard hail mary pass to end the first half.<ref>[http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25332364/johnson-hasselbeck-lead-colts-to-win-over-texans-5-things-to-know Hasselback leads Colts] CBSSports, Retrieved October 9, 2015</ref> He finished his rookie season with 14 receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
In Week 8 of the 2016 season, Strong suffered a serious ankle sprain against the Lions. The injury kept him out the next five weeks before being placed on injured reserve on December 10, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Denzel Rice to active roster, Jaelen Strong to IR|url=http://www.houstontexans.com/news/article-2/Denzel-Rice-to-active-roster-Jaelen-Strong-to-IR/9e697958-a3c9-4004-b1ee-dd421e4b1b4c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201075459/http://www.houstontexans.com/news/article-2/Denzel-Rice-to-active-roster-Jaelen-Strong-to-IR/9e697958-a3c9-4004-b1ee-dd421e4b1b4c|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2018|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=December 10, 2016}}</ref> He finished his second season with 14 receptions for 131 yards with no touchdowns in eight games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaelen Strong 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StroJa01/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Strong was suspended the first game of the 2017 season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texans' Jaelen Strong suspended one game by NFL|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-jaelen-strong-suspended-one-game-by-nfl-0ap3000000833996|author=Patra, Kevin|website=NFL.com|date=August 24, 2017}}</ref>
On September 18, 2017, Strong was released by the Texans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Houston Texans release wideout Jaelen Strong|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/houston-texans-release-wideout-jaelen-strong-0ap3000000847497|author=Sessler, Marc|website=NFL.com|date=September 18, 2017}}</ref>
===Jacksonville Jaguars=== On September 19, 2017, Strong was claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaguars claim wide receiver Jaelen Strong off waivers|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/%C2%A0Jaguars-claim-wide-receiver-Jaelen-Strong-off-waivers/948c3f73-d6ff-4e49-b618-7a86a22bdc99|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922105046/http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/%C2%A0Jaguars-claim-wide-receiver-Jaelen-Strong-off-waivers/948c3f73-d6ff-4e49-b618-7a86a22bdc99|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 22, 2017|website=Jaguars.com|date=September 19, 2017}}</ref> He was released by the Jaguars on November 18, and was re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaguars make roster moves|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-make-roster-moves/c5b8d69a-98bf-43ff-945f-9f9ee155ada4|website=Jaguars.com|date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> Strong was promoted to the active roster on December 23.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaguars promote Jaelen Strong to 53-player roster|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/12/23/jaguars-promote-jaelen-strong-to-53-player-roster/|author=Williams, Charean|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=December 23, 2017}}</ref> In Week 16, Strong caught three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. However, he suffered a torn ACL in the game and was placed on injured reserve on December 26.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaguars make roster moves|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-make-roster-moves/3e2180f3-8837-4bc5-a86b-2dae3285945c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101224612/http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-make-roster-moves/3e2180f3-8837-4bc5-a86b-2dae3285945c|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 1, 2018|website=Jaguars.com|date=December 26, 2017}}</ref> Strong was released by Jacksonville on April 30, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/%E2%80%9918-offseason-Undrafted-free-agents-bring-roster-to-89/6f608752-564b-470d-80c2-e53b0f3c864e|title='18 offseason: Undrafted free agents bring roster to 89|last=Oehser|first=John|date=April 30, 2018|work=Jaguars.com|access-date=May 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502034840/http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/%E2%80%9918-offseason-Undrafted-free-agents-bring-roster-to-89/6f608752-564b-470d-80c2-e53b0f3c864e|archive-date=May 2, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Cleveland Browns=== After spending the 2018 season out of the NFL, Strong was signed by the Cleveland Browns on February 20, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 20, 2019 |title=Browns sign WR Jaelen Strong |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-wr-jaelen-strong |access-date=2025-07-30 |work=ClevelandBrowns.com}}</ref> Strong was waived by the Browns on August 27.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 27, 2019 |title=Browns waive WR Jaelen Strong |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-waive-wr-jaelen-strong |access-date=2025-07-30 |work=ClevelandBrowns.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== On February 28, 2016, Strong was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona for marijuana possession. He was later released from jail.<ref name="Ganguli">{{cite news|last1=Ganguli|first1=Terry|title=Texans WR Jaelen Strong arrested for marijuana possession, released|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14871309/jaelen-strong-houston-texans-arrested-marijuana-possession|access-date=March 1, 2016|work=ESPN|date=February 29, 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Twitter}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140916013201/http://www.thesundevils.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30300&ATCLID=207911647 Arizona State Sun Devils bio]
{{Texans2015DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strong, Jaelen}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Philadelphia Category:American football wide receivers Category:Pierce Brahmas football players Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football players Category:Houston Texans players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players Category:Cleveland Browns players