Carmel’s Jalin Strowder was ready to begin his mission.
The 6-foot-4, 340-pound offensive lineman intended to lose 25 pounds before his senior season.
“Personally, I feel like I needed to make that change,” he said.
Strowder thought he needed to get quicker. Carmel (1-0) was set to implement a zone scheme on offense that would require him to be lighter on his feet at left tackle. He also knew his future college coaches — he committed to Eastern Illinois in June — would want him to cut weight before enrolling.
So after a junior season during which he was named CCL/ESCC White Division co-lineman of the year, Strowder set a goal to get down to 315 by springtime. That wasn’t going to be easy.
Enter his mother.
“I wanted to make sure that I could help,” Robin Strowder said. “So we put our minds together. He said, ‘I think I need to meal prep,’ and I said, ‘OK.’”
At the time, Jalin Strowder was filling himself with Popeyes chicken and McDonald’s.
“I thought because I was young that it wouldn’t really affect me as much,” he said. “But I realized that that’s not a good way to think. Habits start really early in life, so if you break those habits early, then you’ll be in good shape when your body can’t recover from eating fast food.”
Carmel’s Jalin Strowder (73) looks to make a play during a nonconference game against Grayslake Central in Mundelein on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. (Brian O’Mahoney / News-Sun)
Jalin Strowder didn’t only change his diet. He helped plan meals and cook them too.
“We started to look up recipes and cook together,” Robin Strowder said. “I would ask him, ‘OK, what’s the meal plan this week?’ And he would say, ‘Chicken.’ Then we’d go get chicken, rice and broccoli. We’d sit down and make a plan, then cook on Sundays for the week.”
By March, Strowder was at his goal weight of 315. He was lighter and faster.
“I think he’s actually stronger now, and his athleticism, stamina and endurance have increased,” Carmel coach Jason McKie said.
McKie played eight NFL seasons, mostly as a fullback for the Chicago Bears. He says he didn’t focus on nutrition until he got to Temple. Jalin Strowder may be ahead of schedule.
“It’s exciting to see him actually understand more about nutrition and start to take care of his body at a young age,” McKie said. “In football, everybody has talent, but not everybody is available all the time, and your standing is based upon things like your nutrition and the way you take care of your body. A lot of students don’t do that.”
Jalin Strowder showed off his refreshed athleticism at spring and summer camps, leading to more serious consideration from Division I programs. In June, EIU offensive line coach Cole Hoover came calling with an official offer.
“(A scholarship) means no money out of mom’s pocket, and that’s really the No. 1 thing for me,” Jalin Strowder said. “I’m helping my mom out by playing a kid’s game.”
Carmel’s Jalin Strowder (73) tries to block Grayslake Central’s Cordell Johnson (50) during a nonconference game in Mundelein on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. (Brian O’Mahoney / News-Sun)
In the process, Jalin Strowder has even inspired her.
“He has been such a motivator for me in the way that he found something that he loved, and he’s really chasing his dreams,” Robin Strowder said. “Jalin has really found his calling. This is not a passion that we pushed on to him. He literally dedicated his life to it. He decided to change his body. He changed his mindset.”
Three years ago, after a frustrating freshman season at North Chicago, Jalin Strowder pursued a fresh start by transferring to Carmel. Last season, he emerged as one of the Chicago area’s top offensive linemen. Now he’s aiming beyond that.
“I’m coming,” Jalin Strowder said. “I want to be a top 10 offensive lineman in the state — no, in the nation. I want to be known as one of the best.”
On Friday night, Strowder helped pave the way for the Corsairs, who won 52-13 win against Grayslake Central in the season opener.
“I expect him to pick up right where he left off and be more dominant,” McKie said. “Sky’s the limit for him. I know he’s excited.”
Sam Brief is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/football-eiu-recruit-jalin-strowder-carmel/
