Jaylen Mbakwe

Jaylen Mbakwe is an American college football wide receiver for the Georgia Tech [Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]. He previously played for the Alabama [Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide].

High school career

Mbakwe attended Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Alabama where he played High [school football|football] and ran track. He entered his junior year with more than 60 scholarship offers. That year he played as both a wide receiver and cornerback. For his senior season, he moved to quarterback and led his team to an Alabama 6A title. He rushed 148 times and recorded over 1,000 yards on the ground while accumulating 23 touchdowns. He also passed for 2,007 yards and 20 touchdowns, and was named MVP of the state championship game after throwing and rushing for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Over the course of his high school career, he lined up as a receiver, running back, defensive back, kick/punt returner, and quarterback. Following his senior season, Mbakwe earned a spot to play in the Under Armour All-America Game and also played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.
A five-star recruit, Mbakwe committed to play college football at the University of Alabama over offers from Georgia, USC, LSU, and Notre Dame [Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame].
Despite Nick Saban's retirement upon the conclusion of the 2023 [Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2023 season], Mbakwe remained firm in his commitment to Alabama.