Oct. 29, 2003
Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri senior offensive tackle Rob Droege has been named a 2003 National Scholar-Athlete, as announced today by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Droege, a native of St. Louis, Mo., is one of 15 student-athletes, including one of eight from Division I-A, to receive the prestigious award. He will be honored at the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's 46th Annual Awards Dinner on December 9th at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Droege will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship as part of the award.
Droege becomes the 9th Tiger football player to earn the prestigious award, joining the likes of QB Corby Jones (1998), OG Mike Bedosky (1993), QB Kent Kiefer (1990), LB Van Darkow (1981), LB Chris Garlich (1978), DT Bill Powell (1966), T David Gill (1963) and HB Fred Brossart (1960).
Droege, considered one of the top tackles in the nation, is a driving force behind a Tiger offense that currently ranks 8th nationally in rushing, at 227.38 yards per game. Mizzou is currently 6-2 in 2003 and bowl eligible for the first time since 1998, and is coming off a 469-yard rushing day in a 62-31 win over Texas Tech - a total which is the best in the nation this year.
The 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle was a pre-season second team All-American selection by Street & Smith's, and remains on the watch list for both the Lombardi and Outland trophies. He was a first team All-Big 12 selection as a junior last season, and is a three-time first team Academic All-Big 12 awardee. Also a two-time Academic All-America District VII winner, Droege completed his undergraduate degree last May with Summa Cum Laude honors, and is currently enrolled in Missouri's Education Administration graduate program.
Active in the Columbia community, Droege donates his time to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters, coaches at Columbia youth football camps, and has helped raise money for the local Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Restoration Project.
To be eligible for the post-graduate fellowship, nominees must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have shown superior academic application and performance, have outstanding football ability as a first team player, and have demonstrated strong leadership qualities.