Desert Edge senior offensive tackle Jalayne Miller stands next to the Scorpion logo on the Goodyear school’s fieldhouse. Miller verbally committed to play at Stanford and has been accepted by the university.
(Courtesy Ed Russell Photography/For West Valley Preps)
Desert Edge sophomore offensive tackle Jalayne Miller blocks Higley senior middle linebacker Jacob Pitts during the 5A Conference title game Dec. 1, 2023 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. Now a junior, Miller already has 11 Division 1 college football offers.
Football made Jalayne Miller a prized D-I recruit, as the 6-5, 305 pound offensive tackle received an offer from Georgia Tech before he played a down at Desert Edge.
But for all the doors the sport has opened for him it did not fundamentally change who he is or what he wants from a university.
Miller said he always wanted to study at Stanford, and truly committed to the university instead of more temporary football-related factors. He made his verbal commitment to the renowned university in Palo Alto, Calif., in June, less than three months after the Cardinal fired coach Troy Taylor and hired Frank Reich as an interim coach for this year only.
“I knew Stanford was a place I can get my education, whether I had to sacrifice anything football related. I know some schools say, ‘You have to be this way.’ Or some schools would not want me to take a certain degree path,” Miller said. “Also some of the coaches that recruited me early on said to go for the school and not the coaches. Nowadays, it just changes.”
He is ranked as a four-star offensive tackle, though he may move to an interior line spot. By now, Miller said he is used to the attention that comes with 23 major Division I college scholarship offers.
Early on, though, it was a bit bewildering for the big guy.
“To be honest, going into high school I didn’t think football would get me this far. I wasn’t too much into the football scene college-wise,” Miller said.
He said he did not really feel comfortable on the field until later in his sophomore year.
The end of that season provided the heartbreak that motivated him to become much more invested in his football career.
In the 2023 5A title game, the Scorpions trailed Gilbert Higley 42-14 in the third quarter. They came all the way back and appeared to take a 43-42 lead on a two-point conversion to end the game. But a holding call sent the offense back and another two-point try failed for a 42-41 loss.
“That left memories in my head that I still remember today. It still makes me a little sad,” Miller said. “I’m definitely taking it more seriously after seeing us get that far just to fall short. It definitely lit a fire in me. Winning the championship last year helped and we set the goal of going undefeated this year.”
Before the 2024 season, co-coaches Mark and Marcus Carter stepped down to avoid probation on the team. Former defensive back coach Henri MacArthur stepped in.
MacArthur said Miller improved tremendously in all four years with the Scorpions.
“Our OL Coach GT (Terrance Liddle) has really been hands-on with him since day one, working with him to improve in all aspects,” MacArthur said. “Now that he is back fully healthy it’s been great to see where he is as a senior.”
Desert Edge shook off a 1-3 start and a 6-4 regular season to dominate the 5A postseason and win its second state title.
Miller became a leader, though he brings his own approach to it.
“He’s absolutely a big kid, very intelligent and fun loving,” MacArthur said.
The Scorpions are trying to win again with a very young team. Desert Edge just completed an undefeated season and is the top seed in 5A.
Miller missed the first four games with an injury.
“I came back game five and was eager to get out there,” Miller said. “I’m soaking it all up because I know I have only one senior year.”
Since he came back to solidify the line, the Scorpions have scored 35, 29, 44, 58, 60 and 66 points. Unlike last year, the defense and special teams were responsible for only five of those 26 touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Blake Roskopf and sophomore running back Byron Brandon, in particular, have flourished.
“It has given Blake a lot of peace of mind and confidence knowing he will have a clean pocket and his blindside is well protected,” MacArthur said. “That has been key with our improved pass game. And, as you mentioned, he is a big difference in the run game as well.”
Miller made the adjustment to a third different offensive system in three years with aplomb.
Former Paradise Honors head coach Josh Goodloe arrived as the offensive coordinator and brought his Air Raid offense along.
“It’s a smooth transition. I think Coach Henri did a perfect job of picking people,” Miller said. “Coach Goodloe is a really good offensive coordinator. He made really simple for us, especially the offensive line.”
He will have a full senior year, graduating in May.
However, the fun cannot start until the Scorpions win another title.
“The job’s not finished yet. I want to finish it with my teammates and have a fun senior year,” Miller said.
Then it is on to Stanford. Miller said his campus visit was amazing, including meeting athletics general manager and legendary quarterback Andrew Luck, who was a key factor.
Miller talked to the offensive line coach and met several players from Arizona.
He said he plans to study mechanical engineering. His grandfather has always been hands-on, building things from scrap metal and parts in the back yard.
Now Jalayne Miller enjoys the same kind of hands-on work.
His grandparents and mother instilled the importance of education to Jalayne when he was young.
“They said education will take you far because the game of football isn’t going to last forever,” Miller said. “Someday I’ll have to hang up the cleats and I want to have something to fall back on.”
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
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