Jalen Wayne Bio
Jalen Jakory Wayne (born May 13, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He played college football at the University of South Alabama, where he became one of the most productive pass catchers in program history. After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Wayne signed with several National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, and Montreal Alouettes.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 209 pounds, Wayne combines length with the kind of physical profile that has long defined the wide receiver position. He grew up in Spanish Fort, Alabama, where he initially focused on basketball before transitioning to football. A late bloomer on the gridiron, Wayne has built his professional resume on perseverance and a steady climb through multiple professional rosters.
Early Life and Background
Jalen Jakory Wayne was born on May 13, 1999, in Marion, Louisiana, but grew up in Spanish Fort, Alabama, a community along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. He attended Faith Academy, where he focused primarily on basketball during his early high school years. Wayne was a member of the Faith Academy varsity basketball team while still in eighth grade, demonstrating athletic ability well ahead of his age group.
Before his senior year, Wayne transferred to Spanish Fort High School, where he took up football more seriously. During his senior season, he posted 28 catches for 469 yards and 3 touchdowns as a receiver, while also adding 279 rushing yards on the ground. That dual-threat production helped him earn the attention of college programs, and he ultimately committed to the University of South Alabama.
Path to American Football
Wayne arrived at the University of South Alabama as a relative latecomer to football, having spent most of his developmental years focused on basketball. He joined the South Alabama Jaguars program and worked his way into the wide receiver rotation, though his path required patience. As a sophomore, he played in just four games before taking a step back from active competition to further develop his skills.
The patience paid off. By his junior season, Wayne had become a reliable target, hauling in 33 receptions for 418 yards and 1 touchdown. As a redshirt senior, he elevated his production with 53 catches for 630 yards and 2 touchdowns, establishing himself as a featured piece of the South Alabama offense.
Jalen Wayne Career
College Career (2018–2022)
Wayne used the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes following the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to South Alabama for a sixth season. In that final collegiate campaign, he delivered his most productive year, catching 58 passes for 815 yards and 9 touchdowns. For his performance, he was named Second-team All-Sun Belt in 2022, the most significant individual recognition of his college career.
Across his full tenure with the South Alabama Jaguars, Wayne finished with 152 receptions for 1,980 yards and 14 touchdowns. Those totals placed him among the most productive wide receivers in Jaguars history and made him an intriguing prospect heading into the 2023 NFL Draft cycle.
Buffalo Bills Era (2023)
After not being selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Wayne signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent, joining one of the league’s most stable receiver rooms. His time in Buffalo was brief, as the organization released him on July 28, 2023, during the first wave of training-camp cuts.
Cleveland Browns Era (2023)
On August 4, 2023, just days after his release from the Bills, Wayne signed with the Cleveland Browns. He spent less than a month with Cleveland before being released on August 27, 2023, as the team trimmed its roster ahead of the regular season.
Montreal Alouettes First Stint (2024)
On January 22, 2024, Wayne signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, beginning his first stint in the CFL. The move to Canada provided him an opportunity to play in a professional regular-season game, a chance he had not received during his short NFL stops.
Green Bay Packers Era (2024)
Wayne returned to the NFL on July 19, 2024, when he signed with the Green Bay Packers. He was released on August 27, 2024, but was re-signed to the team’s practice squad. On September 10, 2024, the Packers released him again, ending his second NFL stint.
Montreal Alouettes Second Stint (2025)
On January 20, 2025, the Montreal Alouettes signed Wayne for a second time. He was released by the organization on July 13, 2025, after which he became a free agent.
Notable Events and Milestones
The signature moment of Wayne’s career so far came during his sixth and final college season at South Alabama, when he was named Second-team All-Sun Belt in 2022. He finished his collegiate career with 152 receptions for 1,980 yards and 14 touchdowns, totals that rank among the most productive in program history.
Jalen Wayne Career Stats
At the college level, Jalen Wayne completed his University of South Alabama career with 152 receptions for 1,980 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns across multiple seasons. His most productive season came in 2022, when he recorded 58 catches for 815 yards and 9 touchdowns as a sixth-year senior.
College Highlights
Wayne’s college career arc trended sharply upward over time. After playing in only four games as a sophomore, he grew into a 33-catch receiver as a junior, then a 53-catch, 630-yard contributor as a redshirt senior, before delivering his career-best 58-catch, 815-yard, 9-touchdown season in 2022. That senior campaign earned him Second-team All-Sun Belt recognition and cemented his status as one of the most productive receivers in South Alabama history.
Jalen Wayne Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wayne comes from a family with deep football ties. He is the cousin of former NFL wide receiver Reggie Wayne, the longtime Indianapolis Colts star who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That family connection places Wayne within one of the most accomplished pass-catching lineages in professional football history.
Personal Life
Born in Marion, Louisiana, and raised in Spanish Fort, Alabama, Wayne maintains ties to the Gulf Coast region where he grew up. His transition from a basketball-focused youth to a multi-team professional football career has been a defining theme of his athletic journey.
2025 Season Performance
Jalen Wayne entered the 2025 campaign with the Montreal Alouettes, having re-signed with the Canadian Football League franchise on January 20, 2025. His second stint in Montreal represented another opportunity to play in a professional regular-season game and to compete for a roster spot in a pass-heavy offense.
On July 13, 2025, the Alouettes released Wayne, bringing his 2025 season with the club to an end. Following that release, he returned to free agency, continuing the journeyman phase of his career.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, Wayne is expected to explore opportunities in both the NFL and CFL as he seeks another roster opportunity. His combination of size, college production, and prior practice-squad experience in Green Bay makes him a candidate for depth or developmental roles at the professional level.