By Brad Greer

After one year away from professional football, John Jerry has found a new home.

The former South Panola and Ole Miss standout signed a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this week.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

An eight-year veteran of the National Football League, Jerry, who turns 33 years old today, was drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins in 2010 where he spent four seasons.

Jerry was a 2005 graduate of South Panola and played on the 2003 to 2005 state championship teams. He played on the 2006-2009 Ole Miss team.

After being released in 2013, Jerry was reunited with former Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning in New York where he also spent four seasons with the Giants.

John and his brother, Peria, were both standouts with the South Panola and the Ole Miss Rebel teams.

Peria was a 2004 graduate of South Panola and played on the 2001 and 2003 teams. He was a member of the 2005-2008 Ole Miss teams.

He was drafted in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2009 and played five years in the NFL before retiring with an injury.

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