Jalen Hale

New school, new number, same question — and Jalen Hale's early answer at SMU is No.39 5★, national recruit.

WR · SMU · Jr. · #2

6′1″ · 198 lb · Longview, TX

Transferred Alabama → SMU for 2026

Next upSat Sep 19 · 3:30 pm ETat LouisvilleL&N Federal Credit Union StadiumLouisville by 1.5

How he plays

Yards / catch: 100th percentile.

The full scouting read

The numbers

121

receiving yards · 2026

3 catches · 40.3 per catch

2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 rec, 70 yds, at Florida State

His career numbers, season by season

The story

3 wide receiver for SMU. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.

Signed as a 5-star recruit to Alabama in 2023.
Transferred from Alabama to SMU in 2026.

His career, year by year

Jalen Hale

WR · SMU · Jr · #2

On Trialas of 2026-09-15

Jalen Hale arrives at SMU with a new fit to prove and an old chapter behind him.

121REC YDS3REC0REC TD

5★ · NATIONAL RECRUIT

No.39

recruiting national rank

SMU fans can't agree whether the tape backs the reputation.

medium confidence5 sources

Minority viewA vocal minority sees it the other way.

Read the story so far

Jalen Hale arrived as a 5-star prospect, the No.39 recruit nationally. He lines up at WR for SMU.

On the field, the headline is 121 rec yds, with 3 rec.

SMU fans can't agree whether the tape backs the reputation.

The number to watch: No.39 — 5★ · national recruit.

Why nowHe changed programs heading into 2026 — a fresh fit to prove out.

season totals
recruiting national rank
compiled from tagged fan discourse

AI-generated narrative · may contain errors · not journalism · updated 2026-09-15

2026 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2023Alabama12-2HC: Nick Saban · Run-heavy

2026SMU2-0HC: Rhett Lashlee · Pass-leaning, slow tempo

Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort

Box-score percentiles

8 metrics · season cumulative

Elite: yards / catch (100th percentile). Strength: long catch (91st percentile). Concern: receptions (0th percentile).

Box-score rates (8)

Yards / catch#1 / 57 · 100th pct

40.3

Long catch#6 / 57 · 91st pct

Rush TDs#1 / 18 · 50th pct

Rush yards#12 / 18 · 36th pct

Fumbles lost#8 / 14 · 25th pct

Rec yards#51 / 57 · 12th pct

121

Rec TDs#47 / 57 · 10th pct

Receptions#58 / 57 · 0th pct

Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.

Splits & context

Splits

Per-game splits

Through 2 games: 1.5 REC/g, 60.5 YDS/g, 43.0 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.

Supporting cast · Scheme

Staff and system around the player

2026 season

Head Coach

Rhett Lashlee

Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.

Awards

Player standing · 2026

Backup

On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.

Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex

Career stats

Season	Team
2026	SMU	3	121	40.3	0	--
2023	Alabama	5	148	29.6	1	--
Career		8	269	33.6	1	--

Season	Team
2026	SMU	1	4	--	--	--
2023	Alabama	--	--	--	--	--
Career		1	4	--	--	--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026

W 27–24

at Florida State

4 rush yds (1 car)

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 on the road.

With K. Jennings — 430 yds · 3 TD · 2 INT · QBR 95.6 · 33 rush yds (5 car) · D. Green — 43 rush yds (13 car)

Game log

Game log · Week-by-week

2026 season · 2 games

Box score · CFBD

Wk	Opp	REC	YDS	AVG	LONG	Note
Wk 1	W 27-24@ Florida State	2	70	35.0	64	Season-high 70 yds
Wk 2	W 56-10vs UC Davis	1	51	51.0	51
Total		3	121	43.0	64

The receiver room · SMU

#8Yamir KnightWR · Sr.637 receiving yards · 2025
#3Yannick SmithWR · Jr.583 receiving yards · 2025
#10Jalen CooperWR · So.321 receiving yards · 2025
Derrick McFallWR · So.160 receiving yards · 2025
#2Jalen HaleWR · Jr.2 games · 2026

9 more on the roster · SMU team page

Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology

20234 games

2026