He initially wasn’t drafted by the NFL. Months later, Jalen Coker returns as a professional wide receiver

LEESBURG, Va. — The dream of becoming a professional football player has become a reality for one Loudoun County man. He’s now returning home to play against his hometown team, the Washington Commanders, as a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers.

Jalen Coker, 22, was a player at Holy Cross University in Massachusetts after he graduated from Potomac Falls High School in 2020.

He, his family and friends packed their home in April for the NFL Draft in hopes of being recruited. On the third day of the Draft, Jalen Coker didn’t get his name called. It was a whirlwind moment in a day full of emotions.

“It was hard to watch,” his mother Jenny Coker said. “But he was getting calls for undrafted free agent opportunities, and the Panthers is the one that he chose.”

Jenny Coker said her son was excited with the opportunity to attend the rookie mini camp throughout the summer. From there, he signed with the Panthers practice squad where he spent three weeks before making his NFL debut.

“To see him have his very first job be something that he’s been dreaming of his whole life, I don’t think you can put it into words,” Jenny Coker said. “I think tears came into my eyes when I saw him on the field. Just the pride and just the pure joy for him.”

The family plans to attend the game this Sunday against the Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Ideally, they’d love to have a family member be at each game.

So far, Jalen Coker has played in three games.