Usually when a college sports communication or sports journalism class brings in a special guest, it’s a reporter, broadcaster, or someone on the behind-the-scenes side of the athletic world.
Hope College in Holland, Mich., appears to take a different approach.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Division III school posted a picture of NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins posing with assistant professor Patrick Gentile’s sports communication class.
Cousins, who played his high school football at Holland Christian High School in the city, explained the situation in a Friday morning social media post.
Cousins is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered on Oct. 29 during the Minnesota Vikings ‘ 24–10 win over the Green Bay Packers . The Michigan State product finished his shortest season in nine years with 18 touchdowns against five interceptions in eight games.
A four-time Pro Bowler, Cousins will hit unrestricted free agency in the spring at the age of 35—with academia apparently an option.