Cena, who is of part Italian descent[citation needed] was born April 23, 1977, in West Newbury, Massachusetts, the son of Carol and John Cena, Sr. He is the segundo eldest of five brothers – Dan, Matt, Steve, and Sean. After graduating from Cushing Academy, Cena attended Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. In college he was a Division III All-American center on the college football team, wearing the number 54, which is still used on some of his WWE merchandise. He graduated from Springfield in 1998 with a degree in exercise physiology, after which he pursued a career in body building, and also worked as a chauffeur for a limousine company.