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Cowboys' Smith fulfills promise to mom by graduating from Notre Dame

Jaylon Smith/Twitter

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith walked across the stage at Notre Dame's graduation ceremony Sunday, fulfilling a promise he made to his mother three years ago.

Before leaving college to enter the 2016 NFL Draft, Smith told his mom that he would return to earn his bachelor's degree in film and television.

"When I left after my junior year, I promised my mom that I would go back and finish. Finishing my third year with the Cowboys, it was time," Smith said Wednesday, according to David Helman of DallasCowboys.com.

Smith completed the final 21 hours of his program in just one semester - a course load that included critical pedagogy, Latino studies, Latino muralism, philosophy and human nature, and poetry.

"You name it, I took it," he said.

The 23-year-old started all 16 regular-season games for the Cowboys in 2018, tallying 121 tackles, four sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown.

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