Under Armour Senior Bowl Selects (Rhodes) Scholar-Athlete
Mobile, AL. (Jan. 15)---Former Florida State safety Myron Rolle will be putting down his text books and picking up his football pads later this month at the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl. Rolle, who forewent his senior season with the Seminoles to study at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar recipient, has officially accepted an invitation to the senior showcase event, bowl officials announced today. Rolle joins previously announced Florida State players Dekoda Watson and Patrick Robinson on the South roster. Kickoff for the January 30th event is scheduled for 3pm (CT) in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game and all practices will be televised by the NFL Network.
Rolle is the first Rhodes Scholar to participate in the Senior Bowl, although former Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington (2000 Senior Bowl) was a Rhodes Scholar finalist his senior year.
“The opportunity that I have to play in the Senior Bowl is one that I will certainly cherish and value because NFL teams and scouts haven’t seen me for a year,” Rolle said. “This will be the first time I’m on a stage with some other talented players to display my ability and show that I haven’t lost any of my athleticism in a year.”
A three year starter at Florida State, Rolle was named a third team All-American his junior year (Associated Press) and second team All-ACC pick. He finished third on the team in total tackles that year (62) and missed only one start after arriving late for the Maryland game which fell on the same day as his Rhodes Scholarship interview. Prior to missing that start Rolle had started 30 consecutive games.
“The only thing I haven’t done in a year is hit somebody and be physical. So once I get that first hit out of my system I think it will be like normal again. I’ve been playing football for 15, 16 years and I’m just ready for the Senior Bowl and the challenge that lies ahead.”
For his career, Rolle has 206 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 13 pass deflections. He has been working with renowned trainer Tom Shaw since he graduated from FSU in 2008 in preparation for the 2010 NFL Draft. Following a career in the NFL, Rolle plans on attending medical school and becoming a neurosurgeon. He also hopes to open up a free medical clinic in his native Bahamas.
“NFL players are revered in this country, they are role models and if you have that platform or that sort of reach to all of Americans, especially to fans of professional sports, you can make a difference. The ones that do make a difference are the ones that understand that concept and utilize their positioning in society to advocate for something that’s pertinent to them or pertinent to our whole world and that’s what I plan on doing.”
“Myron’s situation is certainly unique and one that we’ve never had to deal with,” Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. “He is the epitome of a student-athlete and we are confident he’ll pick up right where he left off here at the Senior Bowl.”
Coming out of high school, Rolle was rated the number one recruit in the nation and was a Parade All-American. He chose Florida State after receiving 83 scholarship offers. He graduated from FSU with an undergraduate degree in exercise science and a master’s degree in public administration.
Tickets for the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket offices (151 Dauphin Street and inside Bel Air Mall), select Regions Bank locations, all area Food For Less locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.
######
