Productive running back with P5 offers commits to Colorado State

Jalen Dupree announced his verbal commitment to Colorado State in an exclusive interview with the Power Hour on Friday.

A 6-foot, 210-pound running back out of Malvern High School in Arkansas, Dupree is listed as a three-star prospect on 247Sports. According to the same site, his offers include Arkansas State, Boston College, Kansas State and Purdue, among others. Fellow Mountain West programs, Air Force and UNLV, have both pursued him as well.

Looking at his numbers, it’s easy to see why he has so many D1 suitors. Despite a massive work load with 530 touches, Dupree has averaged an astounding 8.4 yards per carry over the last two seasons. He’s coming off a junior campaign in which he rushed for 2,828 yards and 41 touchdowns over 14 games (202 YPG). And he did not have a single performance this season in which he finished below the century mark in rushing yards.

In addition to his production on the ground, Dupree also averaged 22.9 yards per reception and had five receiving touchdowns in 2022. He basically averaged one catch per game but clearly made the most of them. Really, though, that’s just what Dupree does.

Watching his highlights on Hudl, it feels like every clip is him breaking off a massive play. He’s slippery in the open field and has the ability to make defenders miss with ease. He’s big enough to be able to bounce off of arm tackles, too. Then once he gets past someone, it’s too late. They’re not going to be able to catch him from behind.

Much like Damian Henderson and Justin Marshall from the 2023 cycle, Dupree feels like a real steal for the CSU staff. Dupree is a four-down running back that could play in any conference in the country. It’s why you see schools like Boston College and Kansas State going after him — major programs that are known for being able to run the ball effectively.

The ‘Air Raid’ may not traditionally be known for needing a strong rushing component, however, in Matt Mumme’s adaptation which features aspects of the ‘Pistol’ offense, the ground game is actually quite important. Not only does it allow the offense to keep the sticks moving, but it takes some of the pressure off of the offensive line and QB.

It’s going to be exciting to see what comes of these up-and-coming running backs down the line.