Mayden lands first offer
Jalen Mayden has had a long relationship with the Houston coaching staff and recently the Cougars were the first team to offer the 2018 quarterback.
Mayden, from Sachse, Texas, said at the Rivals Quarterback Challenge in Dallas this past weekend that it's definitely a big offer because he's so familiar with the program and the coaching staff so it's one he will consider.
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"It started off with my oldest brother," Mayden said. "He was going to camps and I would go with him and then they were always looking at me and sizing me up.
"Then I went again with my middle brother, he has a lot of offers, Jared, and then I just came again and they told me I had the offer. It's very big. It was my first big D1 offer."
The Sachse dual-threat standout has a unique tie to the Houston program as well which could play an influence later on.
"I used to go to church with coach (Dallas) Blacklock," Mayden said. "That's a good connection."
Other than the early offer from Houston, Mayden said many other programs are showing interest and he's planning to take unofficial visits to Oregon, Alabama and possibly Florida among others in the coming months.
The 2018 recruit said he definitely wants to play in college with his brother - a four-star defensive back with dozens of offers - and that could influence his recruitment moving forward.
"That is a big thing," Mayden said. "I would like to play with Jared."