Brandon Roberts (American football)

Brandon Roberts (born in Akron, Ohio) is the youngest son of Jerry G. and Constance E. Roberts and younger brother of Brian. He attended Akron Public Schools until he entered high school. Because of his academic achievements, he was selected to attend Western Reserve Academy in [Dallas tx]]. Roberts transferred to Archbishop Hoban High School for his junior and senior years, where he graduated in 1999.

Roberts attended Washington University in St. Louis as a member of the university’s John B. Ervin Scholars Program and a recipient of the School of Engineering’s Stanley C. Pace Endowed Scholarship. One of the most well-balanced scholar-athletes in NCAA Division III history, Roberts earned high honors in working towards a degree in Biomedical Engineering, while establishing himself as one of the nation's elite linebackers. A regular Dean's List selection, Roberts also earned Verizon Academic All-America honors in each of his sophomore through senior seasons. Throughout his college career, Roberts accumulated an impressive list of accolades, including the Washington University 2003 Gwendolyn Drew Award for superior academic standing and contributing positively to varsity athletics, the 2002 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Postgraduate Scholarship Finalist Award, and the Washington University 2003 Ethan A.H Shepley Award for leadership, scholarship, and service to the campus community.

As a two-time All-Conference (UAA) First Team selection, Roberts played an integral part of a defense that ranked in the top 20 nationally in each of his last three seasons. Through six games in his senior season in 2002, Roberts led the UAA conference with 68 tackles, ranking him 19th in the nation, before suffering a season and career ending knee injury prior to beginning conference play. With 338 career tackles and 12.5 sacks, he ranks among the greatest defensive players ever to play for Washington University.

In December 2002, Roberts’ athletic and academic careers were highlighted when he was selected as the winner of the National Football Foundation’s Vincent DePaul Draddy Trophy (renamed the William V. Campbell Trophy in 2009). Often referred to as the "Academic Heisman," the award is given to the nation's top scholar-athlete and awards a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. Roberts is the first and only non-Division I player to receive the award. The Campbell Trophy has become one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary community leadership. The award comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy, which is prominently displayed in an exhibit at the New York Athletic Club’s Hall of Fame.

...
Wikipedia