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University of Minnesota Athletics
Myrick Bursts Into The Spotlight
10/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jalen Myrick was talking with multiple college football programs but was still looking for a big-time scholarship offer. The Georgia high school student had a junior year highlight film and needed to pass it along to the right audience.
"It was a lot of 60-yard touchdowns on that highlight tape," Myrick said. "A lot of where I'm running between people and breaking off for 60 yards."
The Savannah, Ga., native wanted to go to school in a city, and he had heard good reviews of Minneapolis from his father. Myrick also happened to have a friend he considers an uncle living in Minneapolis, and who had a connection that would prove valuable to Myrick.
"My uncle knew Tubby Smith, so he knew Tubby Smith could at least get in touch with Coach Kill in some type of way," Myrick said.
Smith was the Golden Gophers' men's basketball coach at the time. Myrick sent the tape to his uncle, who then passed it along to Smith. At that time current linebackers coach Mike Sherels was a graduate assistant and his wife, Emily, was working in the basketball office. Emily gave the tape to her husband, and then-coach Jerry Kill and his staff liked what they saw.
"It was a pretty quick recruitment," Myrick said. "I got offered maybe two weeks later. It was an offer right off the highlight tape."
"It was a pretty quick decision for us-someone over 200 pounds who runs as well as he runs," Minnesota recruiting coordinator Billy Glasscock said. "Once we saw him, we liked him. We immediately wanted to offer him."
The Gopher football staff watches thousands of high school highlight videos, mostly of players recommended by recruiting services and other people they trust.
"We're already watching a select group, and within that select group, a small percentage of them pass the test," Glasscock said.
He added that "very, very few" recruiting tapes from high schoolers the program isn't already watching capture the staff's attention.
"It would be no different than if somebody I knew was trying to play basketball," he said. "I could almost guarantee that he wouldn't be good enough to play."
Myrick has proven he is not only good enough to play for Minnesota, but to start and make an impact. He started seven games as a junior last year and has started all four at cornerback this fall.
Myrick burst into the spotlight as a sophomore when he returned a kick from end zone to end zone. The play helped propel the Gophers to a win against Northwestern, and brought back memories of the big plays on Myrick's junior highlight tape.
"That game, I knew I was going to take it out," he said. "I knew it was going to work because they were squeezing hard the whole game."
He caught the ball toward one side of the end zone, then used blocks and dodged would-be tacklers in the middle of the field. He made it to the other sideline with about 30 yards left before the goal line.
During his junior year, Myrick returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown at Purdue. He started his senior year returning the opening kickoff 56 yards against Oregon State.
"He's explosive with the ball in his hand," Glasscock said. "He's an electric player. When he makes a big play, it's what you expect him to do."
Myrick is the fastest player on the team and some say he is the fastest player in the Big Ten. As a high school junior, he was the 100-meter dash runner-up at Georgia's state track meet. His two-year track experience played a role in his ability to cover receivers, and to change a game with a long return.
"It taught me how to run even faster," he said. "I just tell myself I can go faster, and then I just hit another gear."
While he tries to help the Gophers win games during his senior year, Myrick is also looking to impress NFL scouts. He knows big plays help, but he also trusts in the tutelage of defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Jay Sawvel. A Minnesota defensive back has been selected in each of the last three NFL Drafts, and undrafted free agent Briean Boddy-Calhoun has also caught on in the league this year.
"He's the main reason why I'm confident in the process of going to the NFL, because of the guys he put in the league, the guys he groomed, the guys he developed," Myrick said.
Myrick and other Gopher defensive backs stay in touch with their former teammates who have made it to the pros. Myrick never had a chance to thank Tubby Smith in person for his role in the recruiting process, but he remains close to his uncle who helped him become part of that talented group.
"We have a great relationship," he said. "I love him for doing what he did."
