Jalen Dalton
![]() Dalton with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 | |||
No. 94 – San Antonio Brahmas | |||
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Position: | Defensive end | ||
Personal information | |||
Born: | Clemmons, North Carolina, U.S. | August 4, 1997||
Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||
Weight: | 300 lb (136 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | West Forsyth (NC) | ||
College: | North Carolina (2015–2018) | ||
Undrafted: | 2019 | ||
Career history | |||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
Roster status: | Active | ||
Career NFL statistics | |||
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Player stats at PFR |
Jalen Dalton (born August 4, 1997) is an American football defensive end for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He has also spent time with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.
Early life and education
[edit]Dalton was born on August 4, 1997, in Clemmons, North Carolina. He attended West Forsyth High School where he was a first-team all-state selection. Rivals.com ranked him the fourth-best defensive end recruit nationally and the best player in the state.[1] After graduating, he announced his commitment to play college football at the University of North Carolina in November 2014.[2]
Among North Carolina's highest recruits, Dalton appeared in nine games as a true freshman, recording 15 tackles.[1] He was considered "lean" for his position at 250 pounds, and increased his weight to 290 for the 2016 season, describing his diet as "eat whatever."[3] As a sophomore that year, he made an appearance in all of the school's 13 games and was a starter in two of them, making a total of 27 tackles, including 1.5 for-loss, a blocked kick, and a fumble recovery.[1]
As a junior in 2017, Dalton started three games and appeared in six additional, finishing the year with 28 tackles, three sacks and 8.0 TFLs, the latter of which placed second on the team. Dalton appeared in seven games as a senior, and made 23 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 4.5 TFLs.[1] He finished his college career with 93 total tackles and 6.5 sacks.[4]
Professional career
[edit]Chicago Bears
[edit]After going unselected in the 2019 NFL draft, Dalton was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent, following a successful rookie minicamp.[5] He was waived at the final roster cuts, on August 31.[6]
New Orleans Saints
[edit]On December 18, 2019, he was signed to the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints.[7] He was signed to a futures contract on January 6, 2020.[8][9] He suffered a season-ending injury in August 2020.[10]
In 2021, Dalton appeared to be heading towards a final roster spot with the Saints, but suffered another season-ending injury.[11] He was released by New Orleans on May 3, 2022, having not appeared in a single game in his four seasons with the team.[12]
Atlanta Falcons
[edit]On June 16, 2022, Dalton was signed by the Atlanta Falcons.[13] He suffered an injury in preseason[14] and was released with an injury settlement shortly afterwards.[15]
On October 18, 2022, Dalton was re-signed to the Falcons' practice squad.[16] He was elevated to the active roster for a week eight game against the Carolina Panthers,[17] and made his NFL debut in the 37–34 win, recording one tackle.[18] He was signed to the active roster on November 5.[19] He finished the season with seven games played and 13 total tackles.[18]
Dalton was waived on June 7, 2023.[20]
Carolina Panthers
[edit]On June 8, 2023, Dalton was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers.[21] However, Dalton was waived by Carolina with a failed physical designation on June 12.[22][23]
Seattle Sea Dragons
[edit]On October 30, 2023, Dalton signed with the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.[24] The Sea Dragons folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[25]
San Antonio Brahmas
[edit]On January 5, 2024, Dalton was drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft.[26] He was placed on Injured reserve on May 14.[27]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Jalen Dalton". University of North Carolina.
- ^ Daniels, Tim (November 13, 2014). "Jalen Dalton to UNC: Tar Heels Land 4-Star DE Prospect". Bleacher Report.
- ^ Carter, Andrew (August 13, 2016). "How defensive tackle Jalen Dalton got big(ger)". The Charlotte Observer. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (June 16, 2022). "Falcons sign two, release two after minicamp". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Pearson, Zack (May 2019). "Jalen Dalton signs deal with Chicago Bears". FanSided.
- ^ Pearson, Zack (August 30, 2019). "Chicago Bears roster cuts: Live Tracker". 247Sports.
- ^ Sigler, John (December 21, 2019). "Packers poach New Orleans-native John Leglue from Saints practice squad". USA Today.
- ^ "Jalen Dalton Transactions & Injuries". Sports Forecaster.
- ^ Rose, Bob (June 27, 2021). "Could Saints DT Jalen Dalton Muscle His Way Into the D-Line Rotation?". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Sigler, John (August 26, 2020). "Saints DT Jalen Dalton suffers season-ending injury". USA Today.
- ^ Just, Amie (August 24, 2021). "Saints place 3 on injured reserve, including promising DT Jalen Dalton". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.
- ^ Sigler, John (May 3, 2022). "Saints release two players amid post-draft roster moves". USA Today.
- ^ Kramer, Kelsey (June 17, 2022). "Falcons Sign Former Bears D-Lineman With Nearly 7-Foot Wingspan". Heavy. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ Flick, Daniel (August 31, 2022). "Falcons 53-Man Roster: 6 Biggest Surprises After Cut Day". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (August 31, 2022). "Falcons sign 12 players to practice squad Wednesday". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ "Jalen Dalton: Back in Atlanta". CBS Sports. RotoWire. October 18, 2022.
- ^ Urben, Matt (October 29, 2022). "Falcons elevate Jovante Moffatt, Jalen Dalton from practice squad". USA Today.
- ^ a b "Jalen Dalton Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Bair, Scott (November 5, 2022). "Cordarrelle Patterson activated off IR among flurry of Falcons roster moves". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- ^ Bair, Scott (June 7, 2023). "Falcons sign defensive lineman Carlos Davis". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- ^ Bair, Scott (June 8, 2023). "Panthers claim Jalen Dalton, Tiyon Evans off waivers". NBCSports.com.
- ^ "Jalen Dalton: Cut by Carolina after five days". cbssports.com. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ "Jalen Dalton: Waived with failed physical". cbssports.com. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ "Five players sign letters of intent with XFL". XFL.com. October 30, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "UFL - Team Rosters". www.theufl.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ "UFL Transactions". UFLBoard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
External links
[edit]- 1997 births
- Living people
- Players of American football from Forsyth County, North Carolina
- American football defensive tackles
- Players of American football from North Carolina
- North Carolina Tar Heels football players
- Chicago Bears players
- New Orleans Saints players
- Atlanta Falcons players
- Carolina Panthers players
- Seattle Sea Dragons players
- San Antonio Brahmas players