Malvern (Arkansas) star Jalen Dupree commits to Colorado State

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Tommy Land 

SBLive Arkansas 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Jalen Dupree announced on Friday morning on the Power Hour that he will continue his football career at Colorado State. 

The three-star Malvern running back racked up a plethora of offers, including 17 from Division I programs, following a stellar junior campaign helping the Leopards win the 4A state championship, their first title since 1993. Some of Dupree's offers include Air Force, Army, Boston College, Kansas State, Navy, Purdue, Tulsa, and UNLV among others. 

The Rams finished the 2022 season 3-9 in the first season under head coach Jay Norvell. 

"Back in December, they were the first college to take a chance on me, and they are giving me the opportunity to come in and play as a true freshman," Dupree said. "Coach Norvell told me that I could earn a lot of reps."

The trust that was formed early with Norvell, as well as the assistant coaches, also played a major role in the decision. 

"Coach (Jeremy) Moses, the running backs coach, has stopped by a couple of times, and he has been checking on me," Dupree said. "We have a great relationship, and I really like him a lot."

Despite rushing for 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore, Dupree did not receive much attention from college programs until after this past year which has provided even more motivation. 

Dupree devastated opposing defenses in 2022, compiling over 3,000 total yards of offense - including 2,828 rushing with an incredible 9.4 yards per carry - and 46 touchdowns while also contributing on defense.

He is far from satisfied.

"I got to get to that 3,000 this year," Dupree said.

Malvern head coach JD Plumlee has watched Dupree go from just another kid on the team to one of the best in Arkansas.

"I remember, I first got the job when he was in seventh grade and he did not stand out," Plumlee said. "He just kept working and never put himself in front of the team. In ninth grade I remember thinking to myself that this guy might end up being the best player in this class the way he was working, growing, and moving. 

"All of the sudden during his sophomore season, (quarterback) Cedric Simmons goes down and the rest is history."

Dupree currently weighs in at around 225, about 15 additional pounds from what he played at last season, but as far as losing any speed Plumbee mentioned that "he is still not getting caught from behind," and that continuing to add bulk should benefit him.

"I am just excited to see what he can do because last year he was about 211-212 running the ball and delivering blows like her was," Plumlee said. "There was a college coach here right before school was out who said that he could carry 230. 

"That is just the name of that position right now and everyone is looking for that guy who can run downhill. I think he is just kind of really getting going which is a scary thing to say with all he has done."

Dupree's goal is to stay at a consistent 219-220.

The next step for Dupree and Malvern is to win back-to-back state titles, but there is also the chance they can accomplish something the program never has.

"We want to be the first team in Malvern history to go undefeated," Dupree said. "Nobody has done that yet, so I want to knock that out of the way."