When the McAdams Bulldogs take the field this season, it’s sure bet that Jalen Perteet will be there and he won’t be hard to find.
Perteet returns for his senior year at McAdams after a solid junior campaign. Last year, Perteet was second on the team with 82 tackles and had two fumble recoveries.
But McAdams coach Kenneth Nelson did not know what he had with Perteet until it came time to strap on the pads last year.
“Jalen will fool you,” Nelson said. “When I first started coaching here, he comes off as a guy that doesn’t work hard, lazy, nonchalant, but when he puts the pads on, it’s like he turns into a different human being. When he gets on the football field, he kind of wakes up a little bit. He is kind of the silent leader of the team. He’s not going to say much or talk much but he is the silent leader of the team. He leads by actions. He’s not going to boast or brag, he’s just going to come to work.”
Perteet is a jack of all trades for the Bulldogs. On offense, Perteet may line up and be the tailback or the H-back or even tight end. On defense, his main position is middle linebacker but he can also play an outside linebacker if needed. On special teams, he’s the long snapper.
“He is a stud at middle linebacker,” Nelson said. “He plays defense harder than he does offense. He is a passionate defender. He is always looking for the big hit. When he gets on the field, he is looking for that kill shot. We’ve got a tape of him with nothing but kill shots. He is a big-hit type of player. He will start first game and take the first snap at running back. He’s not going to be the only tailback but if I want to get the year started right, I’ll start with Jalen.”
Despite his quiet nature, Nelson said he sees Perteet stepping into more of a leadership role this season.
“This year, we need more of a leadership out of him,” Nelson said. “He will be the team captain this year. He will be that senior leader and be that spokesperson for the team. I think he is stepping up to be that type of player where I can give him information to tell the seniors to do something like clean the bathroom before they leave and he will take care of it. He is like another coach within the team.”
Perteet, who is 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, is getting some interest from the junior colleges and already has offers from Holmes, Southwest and interest from East Central and East Mississippi.
“I think he can play college football,” Nelson said. “He’s getting a lot of junior college offers and looks right now. I think he can play some Division II. When I run into a lot of Division II coaches, they tell me they are looking for juco players. He has the grades. He is going to qualify.”
Nelson said Perteet is the type of player who will shine in a college program.
“If he has a weakness, it’s his speed,” Nelson said. “He runs about a 4.8 but he is really good between the tackles. I think if we can get him to the next level, his work ethic will take over from there. And I think he has the mental ability to play at that next level. He’s a smart player who understands what the other team is trying to do.”
Speaking of work ethic, Nelson said Perteet is a standout in the weight room where he squats 550 pounds, dead lifts 515 pounds and bench presses 215.
“He’s a strong kid,” Nelson said. “I’m going into my second year, every day I have been at school, he has been here. Every practice we have had, he has been here. He has perfect attendance. He’s going to be at every work out. He is dedicated in the weight room. He won his weight class in powerlifting and was going to win south state and probably compete for a state championship there.”
Perteet said when he’s not playing football or working out, he’s working on the farm, taking care of his small herd of cows or riding four wheelers. But most importantly, he wants to be more of a team leader this season.
“I want to lead the team to greatness this year,” Perteet said. “I have to coach the boys up on the field. We need to stay disciplined and not cheat ourselves. I just need to be more of a team leader. I feel like I’m another coach on the field. I try to get everybody where they should be, in the right gaps. I like defense better, I like to hit people.”
Jalen Perteet of McAdams High School is the third member of the Star-Herald “Top 11 To Watch” to be unveiled. They are being revealed in no particular order on a week-by-week basis and all six of the schools in the Star-Herald coverage area — Kosciusko, Ethel, McAdams, French Camp, Central Holmes and Winona — Christian will be represented. Previously announced as members the Top 11 were Antonio Harmon of Kosciusko and Dalton Wiggins of Winona Christian School.
