Sun Devil legend Jaelen Strong returns to ASU
After leaving for the NFL a decade ago, Strong is back to finish his bachelor's degree
Jaelen Strong addresses the audience at the 2025 Legends Luncheon during a panel discussion. Photo courtesy Tim Trumble/ASU Alumni Association
“This is the best school in the world.”
Those were the parting words that Jaelen Strong, 2013–14 Sun Devil Football wide receiver and 2014 All-American selection, delivered onstage to a crowd of nearly 600 ASU fans, alumni and business leaders at the 2025 Legends Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 14.
An annual event honoring the legacy of Sun Devil Football, this year’s Legends Luncheon, hosted by the ASU Alumni Association and the Sun Devil Club, celebrated generations of All-American players who were among the best at their positions during their time at ASU.
Strong was one of the 120 honorees — but he wasn’t only celebrating his All-America recognition. Ten years after leaving ASU for the NFL following his junior season, Strong has returned to complete his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and is on track to graduate in spring 2026.
“I could’ve finished my degree from anywhere, but I wanted to finish as a Sun Devil,” Strong said. “Legacy means everything to me. When my daughter gets older, and the kids I coach — I want them to know how important ASU is and what it did for me, so that they may come to ASU too.”
Throughout the event, Strong reflected on what it meant to come back and on the strength of the ASU network.
“Honestly, it’s surreal. I’ve always looked at these guys as the legends, and I was always just a player,” he said.
He emphasized how players like J.D. Hill, who also attended the luncheon, has supported him since the start of his ASU career. For Strong, All-American recognition represents not only an individual milestone but also the result of shared effort, mentorship and teamwork.
“An All-American is a lifestyle. It’s a privilege and an honor — you’ve got to live it every day,” Strong added.
Strong credits his time at ASU with instilling grit, resilience and character, which are traits that carried him through challenges and propelled him to the next level in the NFL.
One of the defining moments of Strong’s ASU career was the iconic “Jael Mary,” the game-winning play during the Oct. 4, 2014, matchup against USC — a moment Tim Healey, “Voice of the Sun Devils” and emcee of this year’s luncheon, described as one of the most magnifying plays in Sun Devil Football history.
Ultimately, Strong said, his time at ASU was unforgettable because of the relationships he built and the community that surrounded him.
“It was family. Every time we stepped on the field, we played for the fans and the community. It was special.”
When asked what advice he would offer current players, Strong shared a simple but powerful message:
“Don’t take time for granted. Time is the only thing you really don’t get back. I want them to enjoy their time as Sun Devils. Don’t rush to get out of this place. It’s too beautiful.”
Now, preparing to graduate in May, Strong returns not only as an All-America honoree and Sun Devil Legend, but as a Sun Devil for Life.
“Having the opportunity to get this degree is a blessing,” Strong said, emphasizing that there’s no other place in the world he’d rather be to achieve this feat.