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RANKINGS
Football runs deep in the Price family — and Jalen is next up
Football is the family business in the Price household, and business is booming.
Standing at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Cedar Hill’s Jalen Price is one of the most intriguing defensive prospects in Texas. The junior has been racking up offers from the likes of Auburn, Baylor, and Southern Miss, anchoring a fierce Cedar Hill defense with a chip on its shoulder.
“We want to remind the state of Texas that Cedar Hill is still here,” Price said. “There’s a standard you have to hold up here... it’s competitive. Everyone wants to eat. We’re all fighting to get that first sack, that first TFL, that first tipped ball. We all want to make plays.”
One of Price’s biggest weapons? His versatility in the trenches.
“I’ve really improved my speed, and my body is developing,” he said. “With my size and quickness, the coaches are moving me around from the edge to three-technique in pass rush. All these different stances and alignments let me open up my bag.”
That athleticism and passion run deep in his bloodline. His father, JP Price, played alongside Zach Thomas and Marcus Coleman at Texas Tech. His grandfather, Willie Price Jr., was an All-SWAC performer at Prairie View A&M and later coached JP at Roosevelt High in Dallas.
Despite the legacy, Jalen’s journey has been self-driven.
“I’ve never really felt pressure from my family to play football,” he said. “I actually like engineering. But as I got older—and bigger—I really started to love the sport and the physicality of it.”
That love turned into resolve after a personal tragedy.
“I made a promise to my auntie that I was going to make it. When she passed, it flipped a switch in me. I’ve got to keep my promise to her.”
Now, he’s locked in like a pro.
“I train, eat right, and focus a lot on recovery,” he said. “You’ve got to get rest. I play a lot of basketball to improve footwork and cardio, and I watch film constantly—Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, Aidan Hutchinson, Colin Simmons (Texas), Dylan Stewart (South Carolina). I stay in the game.”
With his size, genes, and mindset, Jalen Price is a name Texas high school football — and college recruiters — won’t forget anytime soon.
THE SQUARE ROOT: The next generation of legendary Houston football family
The “Square” name is synonymous with Greater Houston football.
At the legendary Jack Yates High School, the Square name is royalty—there’s been a Square playing for the Lions dating back to the mid-1920 until the late 2000s.
The last of the Third Ward football family to make waves was Damion Square, who helped lead Alabama to three BCS National Championships under Nick Saban. The defensive lineman went on to play nine seasons in the NFL and is now the defensive line coach at the University of West Alabama.
Well, there’s a new Square emerging—Micah Square, who just graduated from Hamilton Middle School in Cy-Fair ISD. He’s currently zoned to Cy-Fair High School.
The 6-foot, 165-pound incoming freshman is a dual-sport athlete: roaming the outfield and pitching in baseball, while also running deep routes in football.
“I was born when my dad was playing at Alabama,” Micah said. “I don’t remember that, of course, but I do remember being around the locker rooms in Kansas City and with the Rams. I was really close with Keenan Allen, Denzel Perryman, and Rayshawn Jenkins and their families.”
While Dad was a football star, Mom has a strong football lineage too. Brandi Square’s brother is Robby Ashford, who currently plays quarterback at Wake Forest and was also a college baseball player at Oregon.
“My first love is football because all of my family played the sport and were legends,” he said. “Baseball is sort of new. My uncle influenced me to play, and it really keeps me in shape for football. Baseball gives me a lot of practice tracking down balls and taking the right angles in the outfield. It translates to football. I’m playing some quarterback too, so baseball keeps my arm in shape and strong.”
With the name comes expectations.
“When I’m out there playing, I don’t really feel the pressure of living up to the Square name,” he said. “Yes, I want to live out my dreams, but my dad is just my dad. He doesn’t put pressure on me either. I’ve learned to just have a ‘goldfish’ memory. If something great happens or something bad happens, you just have to move to the next play. That’s my mentality.”
While wide receiver is his natural position, he’s expanding his skill set at quarterback.
“I have big hands and feel like I can catch anything thrown my way,” he said. “When my team needs a play, they know I can go up and get it. I’m learning the quarterback position very quickly, and my arm strength is really good. Being a receiver helps me escape the pocket fast and break tackles if I need to.”
Nicknamed “Baby Hulk” by his junior high peers, the Class of 2029 prospect also has a creative side.
“I’m really into fashion, and I love to paint custom shoes,” he said. “I’m pretty artistic, but I also like to ride bikes on my neighborhood trails and play video games.”
He knows the recruiting process could come quickly as he rises to varsity play, but he’s got a grounded mindset.
“I’m not going to overthink anything,” he said. “I just want to get up to speed with the tempo of the high school game and get on the field as soon as I can. I’m just looking to win a state championship and carry on the Square name.”
Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves—Micah is still just a pup who hasn’t even been to a high school athletic period yet.
“I love old-school cartoons... like the original ‘Teen Titans’ and ‘Avatar,’” he laughed. “I’m a Philly cheesesteak guy who loves Lamborghini Urus’.”
He’s a Square at heart.
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From His Father...
"Micah is a really driven and engaging young athlete. He's so focused on getting better and has that competitive spirit. With his physicality and desire to improve, he's got a strong foundation for success in whatever he puts his mind to. His likable personality will also take him far, both on and off the field."
- Damion Square