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Former Detroit Lions RB Jahvid Best to be student-coach at Cal

Jahvid Best, the former first-round pick of the Detroit Lions whose career was ended by concussions, is headed back to California. Best will be a student assistant coach this season while completing his degree, Golden Bear Report reported Saturday.

Best was the 30th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and rushed for 945 yards and six touchdown and caught 85 passes for 774 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons but missed the entire 2012 season because of the lingering effects of a series of concussions dating back to college. Best was released in July 2013 and spent time coaching at Richmond (Caif.) Salesian High, where he first rose to prominence as a touted recruit.

"He was great with our kids," Salesian head coach Chad Nightengale told the Bay Area News Group. "He works very well with kids in general. His body of work in college and the NFL, obviously, will win a lot of credibility with players."

Best led the then-Pac-10 with 1,580 rushing yards in 2008 and ranks among the top 10 in school history in career rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards.

Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.