Myron Rolle

Myron Rolle (born October 30, 1986) is a Bahamian-American former football safety. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.

He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at St. Edmund Hall,^[1] Oxford University for the 2009–10 academic year in order to earn an MSc in Medical Anthropology.^[2] In 2010, he was chosen as the second-smartest athlete in sports by the Sporting News, behind baseball player Craig Breslow.^[3]

Early years

Rolle was born in Texas. After a short time spent in Nassau, Bahamas post-birth, Rolle and his family moved to the United States permanently. Rolle was raised in Galloway Township, New Jersey where in 2009, December 10 was decreed "Myron Rolle Day" in his hometown. He attended middle school at Galloway Township Middle School. He first attended The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey where he played the saxophone in the school band, sang in a school play, and was the sports editor of the school newspaper. He then transferred to the Hun School of Princeton and played high school football. He was an All-American and made 112 tackles including 14 for loss. ESPN's recruiting services ranked Rolle as the number one high school prospect in the country.^[4] Rivals.com rated him the 12th-best player and the top athlete overall, as well as the best player from New Jersey in the 2006 recruiting class.^[5] In 2006, after a nationwide search Rolle won the prestigious annually awarded Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Trophy, the premier African-American scholar/athlete award in America for high school males.^[6] He is an alumnus of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

College career

Aspiring to both the National Football League and medical school, Rolle played as a safety at FSU, completed all necessary pre-medical requirements, and earned his bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in just 2.5 years with a 3.75 grade point average.,^[7] joining Christian Ponder in the same graduating class.^[8] Rolle helped the Florida State Seminoles win on the field, and off the field, he won a Rhodes Scholarship. He postponed playing in the NFL for a year in order to study at Oxford University.^[9][10][11]

In 2008, he earned Associated Press 3rd team All-American honors as well as Football Writers Association America 2nd team All-ACC and CoSIDA Academic All-America. In the 2008 season game versus the University of Miami Hurricanes, Seminoles defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews remarked that Rolle played the best and most complete game he has ever seen a safety play at Florida State University in his 25 years of coaching. Rolle had 4 tackles (2 touchdown saving tackles), 1 tackle for loss, 4 pass breakups, 1 sack, 2 quarterback hurries and 3 critical 3rd down stops.

Rolle was named a finalist for one of the 32 Rhodes Scholarships awarded to Americans each year.^[12] His interview for the scholarship was originally scheduled at the same time as Florida State was to play at Maryland, in which Florida State defeated Maryland 37–3. The NCAA decided to allow Rolle to take a chartered plane from his interview in Birmingham, Alabama to College Park.^[10] He was awarded the scholarship less than three hours before the Florida State vs. Maryland game. He became the fourth Florida State student and second school athlete to receive the honor, as well as the only FSU football player to do so.^[13][14] Rolle announced on January 12, 2009, that he would first study at Oxford University for the 2009–10 academic year in order to earn an M.Sc. in medical anthropology and would then enter the 2010 NFL Draft.^[2] He was a member of St Edmund Hall, commonly known as "Teddy Hall," at Oxford, living in college accommodation at Norham Gardens.^[15]

Professional career

Pre-draft

Tennessee Titans

Rolle was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round (207th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract on June 14, 2010.^[17]

Pittsburgh Steelers

On January 31, 2012, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Rolle to a reserve/future contract.

Retirement

Rolle announced his intent to leave the NFL to attend medical school in 2013. He is enrolled at Florida State University College of Medicine.^[18]

Personal

Rolle is of Bahamian descent. He was born to Beverly and Whitney Rolle of The Bahamas.^[19] His family members, including parents and three of his older brothers, Marchant, Marvis, Mordecai, McKinley (NJ) hail from Nassau, Bahamas. He is very proud of his Bahamian heritage and plans to open The Myron L. Rolle Medical Clinic and Sports Complex a free health services clinic in Steventon, Exuma, in The Bahamas.^[20] Rolle is the founder of 'Our Way to Health' – an educational childhood anti-obesity program for Native Americans currently operating in the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Pueblo, Hopi and Navajo Indians. Rolle, in conjunction with Florida Secretary of Children and Family Services, George Sheldon, runs a week-long Myron Rolle Wellness and Leadership Academy for Foster Care children in the State of Florida. In 2011, Rolle, along with 2006 Rhodes Scholar Garrett Johnson, created the "Emerging Scholars Project" – a program to help underrepresented college students become viable candidates for national fellowship opportunities. Rolle has been awarded days in Tallahassee and West Palm Beach, Florida as well as Keys to the City of Lafayette, Louisiana and Sarasota, Florida. In 2011, Rolle joined the Board of Trustees at Hampden-Sydney College. Rolle is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Currently, Rolle is a 4th year medical student at the Florida State University College of Medicine.

References

External links

• Official website
• Florida State Seminoles football bio
• Titans bio