One of Mississippi's top track sprinters, record-setter Jalen Miller, a senior at Rosa Fort High School, has committed to Mississippi State track.
• Name: Jalen Miller
• Classification: 2013
• High School: Rosa Fort (MS) High School
• Event: 100, 200 meters
• HT-WT: 5-9, 162
• Colleges of Interest: Committed to Mississippi State
This past spring, Miller set 4A records in the 100 and 200 meters with times of 10.55 and 21.31. That caught the attention of several colleges. Wednesday, he committed to one of those schools, Mississippi State.
"I committed today when (head track) Coach (Steve) Dudley came by the school," said Miller. "I already had a mindset on going there. And I was hoping that they would be one of the schools that would come look at me."
There were several reasons he chose Mississippi State over his other finalist, Ole Miss.
"I had done a lot of research of their track program and they have a lot of athletes who go pro after they finish school there," said Miller. "Also, one of my closest friends committed to Mississippi State, Kailo Moore. He had something to do with it, too. Based on what he told me, they have a great family-type situation at Mississippi State. My mom has told me to try and go to a local school so she could be close to me and also so that she come come visit me."
How he was treated by Coach Dudley also was a major factor in his commitment.
"The previous coaches who came in, the Ole Miss coaches, didn't stay long like Coach Dudley did," said Miller. "He sat down with me and made sure that I felt comfortable with him being there, talking to me. That told me that he is a player's coach."
And Dudley was a very happy coach after he heard Miller tell him he was committing to Mississippi State.
"Oh man, he had a big smile on his face and couldn't stop shaking my hand after I committed," said Miller. "He was overwhelmed and at a lost for words."
Speaking of overwhelming, the past 10+ months have been a whirlwind for Miller, track-wise.
"Last year, was my first year to run track," said the youngster. "I didn't really pay attention to how much speed I had until I raced a friend at school one day. I beat the fastest person in our school (in a race) and that got back to the coach and he asked me if I would like to try out for track."
He not only went on to set record times in the 100 meters and 200 meters in class 4A but even competed in the Junior Olympics.
"I've learned a lot the past year while running AAU track with the Mississippi Heat and participating in the Junior Olympics," said Miller. "I won 4th (place) in the 100 (meters) in the Junior Olympics. I ran a 10.69 there even though I had done almost no training since I won (the 4A) State (Championship)."
Now that he has committed to Mississippi State track, which has one of the premiere sprint programs in college track, the future is very bright for this very talented young sprinter.