Things didn’t go as planned for Gruver graduate and Texas Tech tight end Jalin Conyers during the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft, but in the end it all worked out.
Conyers, his family and friends all met at the Derrick Event Center in downtown Amarillo on Saturday in hopes of celebrating his dream of hearing his name called on ESPN saying he was one of the 257 selected draft picks.
The rest of this story is only for subscribers.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Instead, it was seven plus hours of an up and down emotional rollercoaster for Conyers and company. Conyers, who sat nervously and anxiously all afternoon glued to his phone and the TV, didn’t hear his name during the draft but it wasn’t all bad as immediately as the broadcast concluded Conyers announced he had signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins.
“My dream has always been to get drafted,” Conyers said. “That didn’t happen but I’m still on an NFL team at the end of the day and now I get a chance to go prove people wrong. There were a lot of ups and downs during this final day of the draft, but God has a plan. His plan was to put me in Miami. This is now my opportunity to go out and make the 53-man roster.”
Conyers had upped his draft stock this past season at Texas Tech. From his prolific high school career at West Texas High and Gruver to transferring from Oklahoma to making a name at Arizona State. Conyers had been building to this draft moment since he could walk. This past fall at Texas Tech Conyers was not only a second-team All-Big 12 selection at tight end but turned heads with his versatility and improved blocking ability.
Following the season, Conyers impressed NFL scouts at the East-West Shrine Bowl and earned an invite where he performed well at the NFL Combine.
Projections had Conyers as a third day six to seven round draft pick, but that wasn’t to be. However, just getting a chance and becoming the first kid from Gruver to sign with an NFL team is the only shot he needs.
“I had a couple of teams calling me and telling me what they were going to do,” Conyers said. “It took a minute, but Miami and they wanted me to be a Dolphin. I believe they have a plan for me and I’m excited to show them what I can do.”
Conyer’s mother, Kimberly, lived and breathed every moment Saturday. From organizing his draft party to playing an outstanding host to watching her son go through every emotion. Kimberly is just so proud to see her oldest son’s hard work since childhood paying off.
“He’s my baby boy and I’m so glad he has a place to go,” Kimberly said. “We’ve been telling him he’s been proving people wrong his entire life. He gets to go do that one more time.”
On top of over 50 family and friends in the building was former Gruver Greyhounds football coach Terry Felderhoff. Felderhoff not only coached Conyers his junior and senior seasons but led Gruver to a state runner-up season in 2018 with Conyers as his wide receiver. The two have been close ever since and Felderhoff has been one of Conyers biggest supporters. Felderhoff went to many of Conyers games and even went to the NFL Combine. There was no way Felderhoff was going to miss this day either.
“I’m just glad he found a team,” Felderhoff said. “How many kids that start playing football get to have the opportunity of being drafted in the NFL. Things don’t always go to plan and that’s all you can ask for. I’m proud of him and everyone here at his party is proud of him. The first day he walked into our fieldhouse to now is awesome. He’s a tremendous young man.”
Though Conyers struggled basically keeping to himself all day Saturday, he was overwhelmed with the support of those in attendance for his draft party and knows he wouldn’t be where he is today without them.
“It meant so much to see everyone here with me,” Conyers said. “Without my friends and family this wouldn’t mean anything. I’ve had a ton of support my entire life and I owe them a lot. It was special to see everyone here and this long day.”