--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Going from college to the NFL, you have…" description: "\"Going from college to the NFL, you have to prove yourself.\" — DeSean Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/desean-jackson-5660_college_going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-t_43423.jpg" --- # Going from college to the NFL, you have to prove yourself. ![“Going from college to the NFL, you have to prove yourself.” quote by DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/desean-jackson-5660_college_going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-t_43423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/desean-jackson-5660_college_going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-t_43423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/desean-jackson-5660_college_going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-t_43423.jpg) > “Going from college to the NFL, you have to prove yourself.” [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transitioning from college athletics to professional sports demands demonstrable performance and credibility. **In simple terms:** Prove yourself in the NFL. Key Takeaway College success isn’t enough; earn your spot. Themes perseverance achievement career transition confidence validation Mood determined ambitious Type motivational sports When to use this quote - draft day evaluation - training camp competition - first professional game - contract negotiations Key Concepts professional sports athlete development performance metrics Practical Applications - motivational speaking for athletes - coaching programs for college-to-pro transitions Questions to Reflect On - What steps can a player take to showcase readiness? - How does proving oneself affect long‑term career stability? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-nfl-644999/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-college/) [Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl/) [Nfl Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl-prove-644998/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Prove Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove-yourself/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [Yeah, I think it's a privilege to play football on Thanksgiving at whatever age. Whether you're a young guy or high school, college, NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-jones/yeah-i-think-it-s-a-privilege-to-play-football-on-thanksgiving-at/) [Mac Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-jones/) > [That's the biggest difference from college to NFL. Everybody's so talented at this level, the difference is knowing the game - knowing where to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baker-mayfield/that-s-the-biggest-difference-from-college-to-nfl-everybody-s-so/) [Baker Mayfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baker-mayfield/) > [Obviously stakes and pressure have increased from high school to college to the NFL, but at the end of it, it's still a kid's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kittle/obviously-stakes-and-pressure-have-increased-from-high-school-to/) [George Kittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kittle/) > [You don't have to prove yourself to anyone. Coz if anyone dares to care about you, he/she will accept who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-have-to-prove-yourself-to-anyone-coz-if-anyone-dares-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You make your life choices understanding that you might and do have to work harder to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/you-make-your-life-choices-understanding-that-you-might-and-do-have/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [All I've ever wanted to do is film... You have to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ortega/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-is-film-you-have-to-prove-yourself/) [Jenna Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ortega/) > [You don't have to prove yourself to me. You don't even have to prove yourself to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-atkins/you-don-t-have-to-prove-yourself-to-me-you-don-t-even-have-to-prove/) [Susan Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-atkins/) > [Prove yourself instead doing f\*cking comparison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-jatt-mafia/prove-yourself-instead-doing-f-cking-comparison/) [Shiva Jatt Mafia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-jatt-mafia/) > [Me coming in the NFL 20 years old, very young, not really knowing the right and wrong thing to do, I had to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/me-coming-in-the-nfl-20-years-old-very-young-not-really-knowing-the/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [I was never that famous, but I do think going to college and really getting away from the business and taking a true break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-was-never-that-famous-but-i-do-think-going-to-college-and-really/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I definitely want to continue being an actress. I love it. The reason I'm going to college is because I do want knowledge in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-winter/i-definitely-want-to-continue-being-an-actress-i-love-it-the-reason-i/) [Ariel Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-winter/) > [Going off to college, makes you realize who your true friends really were in high school...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/going-off-to-college-makes-you-realize-who-your-true-friends-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm going to college. I don't care if it ruins my career. I'd rather be smart than a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-m-going-to-college-i-don-t-care-if-it-ruins-my-career-i-d-rather-be/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I was working part-time as a cleaner while I was going to college and then babysitting after school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alek-wek/i-was-working-part-time-as-a-cleaner-while-i-was-going-to-college-and/) [Alek Wek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alek-wek/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) ## More by DeSean Jackson > [A lot of young guys coming up in this league, they're given the spotlight right away, depending on draft stature or whatever the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/a-lot-of-young-guys-coming-up-in-this-league-they-re-given-the/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [I missed one meeting probably out of my whole career. But at the end of the day, once again, we're not perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-missed-one-meeting-probably-out-of-my-whole-career-but-at-the-end/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [I work hard and I play hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-work-hard-and-i-play-hard/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [Anytime you have somebody that's coming from where you come from, you take it a little personal because they represent what you represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/anytime-you-have-somebody-that-s-coming-from-where-you-come-from-you/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [We just have to play together as a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/we-just-have-to-play-together-as-a-team/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [Bullying is not going to make your mom proud. 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You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-don-t-think-no-one-can-guard-me-it-s-how-i-feel-about-myself-i-don/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [I just want to reach back help pull people out of the poverty, the slums where we're stuck at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-just-want-to-reach-back-help-pull-people-out-of-the-poverty-the/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [At the end of the day, we all have a job to do, go out and handle your business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/at-the-end-of-the-day-we-all-have-a-job-to-do-go-out-and-handle-your/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [I feel like I have a pretty good head on my shoulders about what to expect and how to come in and work as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-feel-like-i-have-a-pretty-good-head-on-my-shoulders-about-what-to/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [This is the NFL - the next man has to step up and do the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/this-is-the-nfl-the-next-man-has-to-step-up-and-do-the-job/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) [Explore all 100 DeSean Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. 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I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. 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I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Going from college to the NFL, you have to prove yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "DeSean Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-to-prove-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "College" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-to-prove-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/desean-jackson-5660_college_going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-t_43423.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/desean-jackson-5660_college_going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-t_43423.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/desean-jackson-5660_college_going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-t_43423.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Going from college to the NFL, you have to prove yourself.” — DeSean Jackson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "DeSean Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Going from college to the NFL,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-to-prove-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/going-from-college-to-the-nfl-you-have-to-prove-yourself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```