TEMPE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — It’s one of those “Where were you when” moments for any Sun Devil.

The Jael Mary is one of the most iconic plays in Arizona state history, but it was just one of many great moments for the play’s namesake, Jaelen Strong. He went from a junior college transfer to one of the most productive players in school history. His future was bright…but injuries and a few lessons in humility cut his NFL career short. There were tough times, but Jaelen fought, grew and healed, both physically and mentally. Since then, he has become a strong advocate for the importance of mental health, something that is so often overlooked in sport or viewed as a weakness rather than a strength. He also mentored and coached the next generation of receivers here in the Valley, passing on his on-court techniques and hard-earned off-court life lessons. And yet, as one of the best players ASU has seen in recent years, the relationship between him and the program is…basically non-existent, which echoes what I’ve heard from a few other notable former players.

In this episode, Jaelen and I look back on his incredible ASU career, the hard truths and painful lessons of his time in the NFL, why mentorship is important, the critical importance of mental health, the status of his relationship with ASU, what he’d like to see from his alma mater towards former players, and much more.

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