{"id":5419,"date":"2025-05-27T13:50:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T13:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/about\/?p=5419"},"modified":"2025-05-29T15:50:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T15:50:40","slug":"jerome-mathis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/about\/2025\/05\/27\/jerome-mathis\/","title":{"rendered":"Jerome Mathis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Jerome Mathis is a former professional football player who competed in the National Football League (NFL). Upon graduating from high school, Mathis was a six-time state champion in track, winning the 2001 national indoor 200-meter title, and setting the 7th fastest time in the nation with 21.79 seconds, at the Nike Classic. Mathis also holds the NCAA record for career kick return average, with an average of 26.6 yards per return. He also holds the NCAA record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown with six. 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