As usual, this year's U.S. Under-19 National Team features tons of future elite NCAA Division I football talent, including 6-3, 210-pound quarterback Jalen Mayden of Sachse (Texas) High School.

In the International Bowl IX finale, the U-19 National Team will face Team Canada Friday, Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. Central Time at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will broadcast on ESPN3, and rebroadcast at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 on ESPNU.

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This past season, Mayden led the Mustangs to a 12-1 record and the third round of the 6A D1 state tournament. Mayden threw for 2,179 yards, 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while running for 816 yards and 13 more scores.

USA Football National Team Senior Manager Aaron Ingram proudly calls Mayden - a four-year participant - a "program kid."

"He was such a baby-faced kid coming in, then you don't see them for six months at a time, and you notice the growth spurts," Ingram said. "All the sudden he has a chiseled jaw, then he's playing varsity, he's driving, then he's a junior lighting it up with 20 offers. Now you see him, he's a self-confident, under control, smooth, great talker, a man."

Mayden (center) as a member of the U.S. U-16 team.

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Mayden is the third member of his family to go through the USA Football development program, following brothers James Mayden (a former wide receiver at Rice) and Jared Mayden (a current defensive back at Alabama).

This year, Mayden is part of what Ingram considers the best all-around U.S. National Team quarterback talent pool ever assembled, along with Oklahoma State-bound Spencer Sanders (6-2, 195; Denton, Texas) and Virginia Tech commit Quincy Patterson (6-4, 230; Chicago).

In addition to giving their best on their field, Mayden said players in the program should seize the opportunity to network with fellow competitors from across the country.

"It's cool. You meet so many people, get some numbers, follow them and what they're doing on Twitter," Mayden said. "You want to meet as many people as you can, and people will remember the guys who get out there and are fun, not the ones who just stay in their room and don't do much. Make the most of every chance you get."

Leading up to the 2018 International Bowl, USA Football Video Content Manager Jayy McClain visited Mayden in his hometown of Sachse, Texas. 

Part 1: Who is Jalen?

 

Part 2: The Piano

 

 

Part 3: USA Football

 

 

Part 4: Texas high school football

 

 

Part 5: The Maydens