Atlanta Falcons pass rusher Takk McKinley shared a message Wednesday with high school football players who don’t sign with a college on National Signing Day.

A former defensive end at UCLA and first round NFL Draft pick by the Falcons, McKinley posted on Twitter that he remembered how it felt to not put pen to paper on National Signing Day.

“Congrats to everyone who’s signing today!” McKinely wrote. “And for the guys who aren’t signing, never give up on your dream. Nothing is wrong with the JUCO route.. Trust me I DID IT #gobruins.”

From Oakland, Calif., McKinley spent the 2013 season at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., before transferring to UCLA in 2014.

> More:  What you need to know about National Signing Day

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