| No. 28, 27 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive back | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | (1971-08-26)August 26, 1971 (age 54) Nassau, The Bahamas | ||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Edison(Miami, Florida) | ||||
| College | Cincinnati (1990–1993) | ||||
| NFL draft | 1994: 6th round, 183rd overall pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Jocelyn Kenza Borgella (born August 26, 1971) is an American former professionalfootball player who was adefensive back in theNational Football League (NFL). Born inThe Bahamas and of Haitian descent, he moved to the U.S. at age three and grew up in Florida. After playing football atMiami Edison High School, he was a four-year starter for theCincinnati Bearcats in college and led the nation ininterception return yards as ajunior. He was selected by theDetroit Lions in the sixth round of the1994 NFL draft, becoming the first Haitian to be drafted into the NFL and later the first to play in a game. He played with the Lions in 1994 and 1996 and with theScottish Claymores of theWorld League of American Football in 1995. After a brief stint with theCincinnati Bengals in 1997, he played for theWinnipeg Blue Bombers andBC Lions of theCanadian Football League (CFL) in 1997 to 1998. He was also a member of theMontreal Alouettes andHamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL as well as had stints in theArena Football League with theTampa Bay Storm andGrand Rapids Rampage.
Borgella was born on August 26, 1971, inNassau, The Bahamas, the oldest of four children.[1][2] His parents were both from Haiti and had moved to The Bahamas for job opportunities.[3] In 1974, at age three, his family moved toLittle Haiti inMiami, Florida.[3]
Borgella began playing organizedfootball at age 14 for a local team.[3] He attendedMiami Edison High School where he competed in football andtrack and field.[3] In football, he was a starter atdefensive back all four years and earned All-Dade County honors as asenior.[3] He helped the track team win the Greater Miami championship.[4] Borgella had interest from a number of topcollege football teams, although many lost interest due to his lateness in completing college entrance exams.[3] He signed to play in college for theCincinnati Bearcats and was described byThe Cincinnati Enquirer as one of the "gems" of their recruiting class.[5]
At theUniversity of Cincinnati, Borgella studied criminal justice.[6] Standing at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and weighing 180 pounds (82 kg), he won a starting role atcornerback as atrue freshman for the Bearcats in 1990.[6][7] He played all 11 games in 1990.[4] He remained a starter for all four years he attended Cincinnati and coachTim Murphy called him "probably our best player" in 1993.[6] He started 10 games in 1991 and then every game during the 1992 and 1993 seasons, earning four Player of the Week honors from coaches during his collegiate career.[4] Borgella recorded threeinterceptions for 34 yards in 1991 before having five interceptions for 171 yards in 1992; his 171 interception return yards was the best mark nationally.[8] He then recorded four interceptions for 58 yards as a senior in 1993, helping the Bearcats compile a record of 8–3.[8][9] He concluded his collegiate career with 12 interceptions for 263 yards, setting Cincinnati's career interceptions record.[3][8] The first in his family to attend college, Borgella graduated with abachelor's degree in criminal justice.[3]
Borgella was selected by theDetroit Lions in the sixth round (183rd overall) of the1994 NFL draft.[10] He became the first Haitian to be selected in the NFL draft.[11] TheMiami Herald reported that his selection served as an inspiration to others in Little Haiti, and the football coach at Edison High School said that "Him getting drafted has lifted our program. When I came here three years ago, I don't think the Haitian athletes felt there was a light at the end of the tunnel".[3] He also became the first Haitian to make an NFL roster later that year.[4] After spending the first seven games of his career on the Lions' inactive list, he debuted against theNew York Giants that year and posted twotackles while appearing onspecial teams.[4] He appeared in the next three games as well before being inactive for the rest of the year.[4] In his rookie year with the Lions, Borgella participated in a relief effort benefiting Haitian refugee children, donating toys and clothes.[12] In 1995, he was sent to theScottish Claymores of theWorld League of American Football to "get more playing experience".[13] With the Claymores, Borgella posted three interceptions, although he suffered a sprained knee playing for them.[13] He did not appear in any games for the Lions during the 1995 NFL season.[10]
Borgella returned to the Lions in 1996 and appeared in 11 games, appearing mainly on special teams.[4] He recorded six tackles – four on special teams and two on defense.[4] Borgella saw his first playing time at cornerback in a game against the New York Giants in which he forced afumble.[4] He also recovered anonside kick against theGreen Bay Packers.[4] He was not offered atender by the Lions in 1997 and thus became a free agent.[4]
On March 25, 1997, Borgella signed with theCincinnati Bengals, later being released on August 10.[10] He signed with theWinnipeg Blue Bombers of theCanadian Football League on August 27 and appeared in five games for them that year, posting 31 tackles, an interception and fourpasses deflected; he also scored atwo-point conversion on a 112-yard return.[10][14] He was traded to theBC Lions prior to the 1998 season and changed his position tolinebacker there.[15] Borgella played in eight games for the Lions and was their leading tackler with 51 tackles before being released in September, which he said "caught me off-guard. I was really surprised".[16] Following his release from the Lions, he joined thepractice roster of theMontreal Alouettes.[16] After a brief stint with theTampa Bay Storm of theArena Football League (AFL) in 1999, he signed with the Blue Bombers that March as a defensive back.[14][17] He was later released during the team's training camp.[18] He signed with theHamilton Tiger-Cats in May 2000, but was released the following month.[18][19] He was also briefly a member of the AFL'sGrand Rapids Rampage in 2001.[20]
Borgella married his wife, Katina Scott, a year after he graduated from high school.[3] As of 1998, they had three children together.[15] His son, Jocelyn Jr., played college football for theBethune–Cookman Wildcats and later served as a coach.[3][21]
