Coming out of Batavia High School in Illinois, Jalen Buckley wasn’t on anybody’s radar. No major recruiting service assigned the high school safety/running back a star value, and he lacked scholarships
from FBS programs.
But Buckley wasn’t ready to quit the football dream, so he walked on Tim Lester’s team at Western Michigan in 2022. Like most walk-ons, he was buried on the depth chart as a true freshman, but a shoulder injury to running back La’Darius Jefferson in the 2022 contest vs. Ohio thrust him into a reserve role, spotting carries behind starter Sean Tyler. In that Ohio game, Buckley handled three fourth quarter carries, and despite trailing 33-14, he raised some eyebrows racking up 17 yards across the final two plays of action.
Western Michigan swapped coaching staffs that offseason, as Lester exited in favor of the newly-hired Lance Taylor, who aimed to restore the Broncos’ championship culture. The walk-on running back stayed the course amidst the sweeping personnel changes, and the new staff quickly recognized the potential of the Illinois native.
Right before the launch of the 2023 campaign, Taylor offered a scholarship to the redshirt freshman tailback, and the decision immediately paid dividends. Buckley posted a 194-yard explosion in the opener, subsequently rushed for a 75-yard touchdown on the opening play the following week at Syracuse, and then attained 196 yards on Toledo to wrap up his first month as Western Michigan’s feature back. In total, he attained 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns that year, securing MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
In today’s era of college football, the MAC Freshman of the Year typically becomes a premier transfer portal target to programs with higher operating budgets, but Buckley knew he bled brown and gold as Taylor and his staff were the ones to truly discover and unearth his talent.
“I sat down and talked to Coach Taylor every year after the season,” Buckley said. “We have exit meetings with my coaches and all that. I bought into this process. I know what this group, what this team and this coaching staff he built together would be something special. They gave me a chance, so why not give me a chance to just keep playing? I used to be a walk-on. I used to have nothing. They took a chance on me, so I just stayed here.”
However, Buckley never recaptured the momentum of that fruitful 2023 freshman campaign. In 2024, he posted 683 yards, and through the 2025 regular season, he managed 636. The running back was suiting up on a regular basis, only missing four games across the past two seasons. Yet, behind the scenes, he battled a slew of injuries which would have held many running backs out of the lineup. But the former walk-on was that motivated to contribute to the championship run he long desired.
“The (last two seasons) have been marred by injury and not minor injuries,” Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor said. “Injuries that keep most people out of games and practice. He never wanted to miss a practice. He never wanted to miss a game. He always wanted to be there for his teammates. I think you saw it early in the season this year. He wasn’t 100 percent, but he was giving 100 percent. He just wasn’t 100 percent healthy, but he just wanted to lay it on the line for his teammates. And that’s frustrating as an athlete, there’s no doubt, when you’re not able to play to your capabilities with whatever injury, it affects you. He did a really nice job managing that and staying focused on the long-term goals.”
Buckley demonstrated improvement toward the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, tallying a season-high 133 yards vs. Northern Illinois and reaching the end zone in each of his final four contests. But in a championship environment against Miami (OH), Buckley delivered his best work.
Not even the brace on his fractured right wrist could inhibit Buckley from ensuring he would hold that MAC Championship trophy. Under the bright lights of Ford Field, the junior running back totaled 193 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, leading Western Michigan to a 23-13 title game victory over Miami (OH) and winning Offensive MVP honors in the process.
“You don’t dream of playing with a wrist brace on, but just like everybody up here and everybody in that locker room, we adapt,” Buckley said.
Buckley broke free for two 60+ yard touchdowns in the MVP effort. On the third snap of the game, the Red Sea parted for the former MAC Freshman of the Year, and he shed off one tackle en route to a 67-yard sprint to the end zone. The team reveled in the running back’s success, as Coach Taylor said the sideline “acted like we won the Super Bowl already” during that first breakaway run. But his day wasn’t over. It was just getting started. Buckley then replicated that run at the beginning of the second half, navigating through a cluster of Miami defenders for a 61-yard house call.
“All glory to God,” Buckley said. “He’s the reason I’m out here. He’s the reason I can play with stuff like this, banged up. And secondly, I want to give thanks to my offensive line, my quarterbacks and my receivers. I don’t think receivers dream of blocking all the time, but in this offense, that’s what it takes. I can’t be me without my quarterback, receivers, and offensive line opening up holes for me.”
Even Western Michigan’s defenders cited Buckley’s performance as inspiring. Defensive end Nadame Tucker, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, said watching the running back scamper for 60 yards at a time only motivated the defense further to produce stops — which they did plenty of in the low-scoring bout.
“We feed off each other, offensively and defensively,” defensive end Nadame Tucker said. “When I see Buck running around, doing all that, that makes me want to go stop and put him back on the field.”
Seeing one of the longest-tenured Broncos hoist that MAC Championship trophy after dominating on that stage was a satisfying sight for Taylor and the entire roster. Western Michigan overcame an 0-3 start in order to secure its first MAC title since 2016. For a team that built a brand on overcoming adversity this season, there was no better spokesperson for the 2025 Western Michigan Broncos than Jalen Buckley himself — the unflappable running back whose belief in the program never wavered.
“I love Jalen Buckley,” Taylor said. “He’s got the heart of a warrior. He’s as tough as they come.”
