Dolphins LB Jelani Jenkins Pleased To Finally Get College Diploma
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DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Dolphins' linebacker Jelani Jenkins is used to hearing the roar of the crowd.
But he just earned a different kind of ovation on a special visit to his alma mater, the University of Florida.
"It puts a period on this whole Gator experience to walk on the same swamp I played football in," said Jenkins.
Jelani left college a year early to pursue his NFL dreams but never lost sight of another goal; finishing his education.
"Football doesn't last long I learned that at a young age," said Jenkins. "I was always planning on coming back as early as possible. Trying to eat away at it every year, every offseason."
It took three off seasons but Jelani just completed his undergraduate degree in applied physiology and kinesiology and proudly walked across the stage at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with his fellow classmates.
"It took a lot of hard work. I'd say that it's up there with getting drafted," he said. "Once I leave football I'll even see it on a larger scale, a bigger scale. I'm excited to be an alumnus and comeback and show my brand, show just how powerful this community is."
Jenkins says he just received his diploma in the mail and is going to hang it on the wall in mom's house back home in Maryland.