Ty Warren has gone from Bryan to Texas A&M to Super Bowl champion in the NFL. Now, he's added "college graduate" to his resume.

The New England Patriots defensive lineman joined Brazos Valley This Morning Thursday to talk about recently walking the stage at Reed Arena to receive his degree, along with the recent state of the NFL as a lockout of the players continues.

Last year, Warren decided to skip a camp that would have earned him $250,000 through his contract with the Patriots. Instead, he returned to College Station to complete his degree.

"It was definitely good to get this over with," Warren said Thursday. "Going to the league has been great, but there was always this halo sitting over my head saying go back, and all those whispers in my ear from my grandparents, my mother and everybody in the community, my coaches that encouraged me to go back, which I was going to do anyway. It was just that incentive."

From 1999 to 2002, Warren starred with the Aggies, this after graduating from Bryan High School. Now, with a degree from A&M, he is the first member of his family to earn a college diploma.

"I just want [kids] to know that getting an education is important," he said. "It's going to be vital when they get older and get out of high school. A lot of kids realize that sooner rather than later, real life starts."

In 2010, Warren had mentioned another motivating factor in getting his degree was the unpredictable state of the NFL. The players have been locked out by the league and the two sides debate how to slice the lucrative pie of NFL revenues.

"I don't see a lot of things coming to a head any time soon, maybe in September when everybody's feet are to the fire from the players' standpoint, from the owners' standpoint and everybody involved," Warren said.

Warren missed the 2010 season with a hip injury, but spent time rehabbing and is set to return to the league whenever play resumes.

To hear more of the former Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion's perspective on the lockout and on getting his degree, click on the video with this story.