UM Showcases Most 4-year Graduates in NFL
March 1, 2009
MIAMI, Fla. – When current University of Miami Head Coach Randy Shannon first took hold of the football program in late 2006, he made one attribute clear in his recruits: commitment. He, as well as many others, recognizes the scarcity of talented senior leaders in college football, as schools often lose promising underclassmen to the NFL Draft before earning their college degrees. In recruitment, Shannon makes it a goal for not only himself, but for the university to find young men who aim for a 4-year commitment not only to the football program, but to earn a full college degree in their respective fields.
Since 1990, a total of 479 total underclassmen applied for the NFL Draft, held annually in April. Out of that group, 332 were selected, and just 131 of those were selected in the first round of the draft. Taken that, roughly 30 percent of students who decided to leave school early did not reach their attempted goal and were either forced to hopefully be picked up by a team as an un-drafted player or pursue a career elsewhere.
The NFL currently has 880 players who have earned college degrees, the Carolina Panthers leading all teams with 42 on their roster. The University of Miami has actively pursued that goal of commitment as Coach Shannon stated, especially since David Wyman, the Assistant Athletic Director of Academics, began working with the UM student athletes.
Wyman has been with Miami since the mid-1990’s and since has implemented a matriculation, or graduation, program to increase the number of graduates amongst the student-athletes. How the matriculation program works is the Athletic Department sets up an academic program that includes summer and intersession classes as well as personal tutoring. This helps the student-athletes earn a full college degree in a target seven semesters, or 3 and-a-half years, at the University of Miami.
“The University of Miami not only has tradition for producing illustrious football athletes, it also has a tradition of graduating those athletes so they can better serve as leaders in society. We expect all of our football student-athletes to graduate before they become professional football players. This is the Miami way”, Wyman stated.
This past 2008-2009 NFL season, 32 professional players who have earned their college degrees earned it from Miami. This noteworthy accomplishment has been recognized as the largest amount of graduates in the NFL from any college or university in the nation for last season. Such an accomplishment speaks a great deal about the program and the goals the university tirelessly teaches to its student-athletes. Amongst the group of players are Ed Reed (’98’-’01), Santana Moss (’97-’00), Reggie Wayne (’97-’00), Jonathan Vilma (’00-’03), Antrell Rolle (’01-’04), and Kelly Jennings (’02-’05).
In football, demands are high with workouts, practice, learning playbooks, and traveling for games. The previously mentioned program makes up for that time and actively portrays the importance of earning an education. William C. Rhoden, writer for the New York Times, wrote a book titled “40 Million Dollar Slaves”, where he stresses the importance to be prepared for life outside of athletics, whether that is before or after a collegiate and/or a professional career. The University of Miami bases their motives on a similar outlook, which is to construct a foundation to provide a broader outlook on life rather than solely athletics.
“The program work’s with the athletes and puts us in the right classes to help us graduate. They provide us with tutors and check up on us every week. That goes a long way to make sure everyone is on track,” says junior defensive back Chavez Grant. Grant will be playing in his final season as a senior come this fall and is currently working towards a degree in Business Management.
Miami also provides support in career building and lessons for life after their athletic careers. “We have a career department that teaches us how to get jobs and do resumes. They do everything that you need out there in the real world, including respecting yourself and others. I respect that and it’s one of the reasons why I chose to come here. They are all about that after your football life, you’re going to need your degree and be able to live and work in the real world”, added Grant.
Former Hurricanes who did in fact leave early to pursue their NFL careers such as Cortez Kennedy and Duane Starks amongst others have come back to reenroll at Miami and earn their degrees. The demand for a football program, especially in a highly recognized one like Miami, has great expectations out of its players. Because of this, the matriculation program not only helps the student-athletes excel in school and complete necessary coursework, but it teaches them about time management and skills to exceed past those skills they use in athletics.
It might always be evident that student-athletes yet to earn a degree will leave school early to hopefully excel at a higher playing level. However, with these programs set up to achieve greater accomplishments in the classroom, the message of the importance of an education has become an equally strong factor. As seen in the number of graduates in the NFL, what the University of Miami teaches its young student-athletes goes much further beyond athletic skill. It teaches about the lessons and morals to excel whether they pursue an athletic career or not. Most importantly, it teaches them the idea of what Coach Shannon relishes his recruiting on, that of commitment.
