Jaylen Waddle

BIOGRAPHY

Jaylen Waddle was born November 25, 1998, in Houston, Texas. He is a wide receiver in the NFL.

He attended Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Texas. As a senior, he played in the U.S. Army All-American Game. He committed to the University of Alabama to play college football. As a true freshman at Alabama in 2018, Waddle was named the SEC Freshman of the Year after recording 45 receptions for 848 yards and seven touchdowns. As a punt returner, he also returned 16 punts for 233 yards and a touchdown. Waddle returned to the Crimson Tide for his sophomore season in 2019. He recorded 33 receptions for 560 yards and scored six receiving touchdowns. He also returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown against LSU and a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against Auburn. He was named first team All-SEC as a return specialist and was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year. On October 24, 2020, Waddle broke his right ankle when he was tackled while returning the opening kickoff in a game against Tennessee. Waddle returned for the National Championship game against Ohio State. 

On January 14, 2021, Waddle announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2021 NFL Draft. Jaylen Waddle was drafted 6th by the Miami Dolphins.

Waddle set the NFL rookie record for receptions in a season with 104, beating Anquan Boldin's old record of 101. Waddle finished his rookie season with 104 receptions for 1,015 yards and 7 total touchdowns.

Waddle finished the 2022 season with 75 receptions, 1,356 receiving yards, and 8 receiving touchdowns. The latter two figures set career highs. He also finished the season with 18.1 yards per catch which led the league.