Mathematician and offensive lineman are two words that are rarely used together to describe a single individual. For Penn State University guard and mathematics teacher John Urschel, those two descriptors come together seamlessly.
Since arriving at Penn State in 2009, Urschel has racked up impressive stats for the Nittany Lions while earning his bachelor’s and master’s in math — and finishing work this semester on a second master’s in math education, all while carrying a 4.0 GPA along the way. He’s the embodiment of brains and brawn rolled into one — and one of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars of the Year.
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Urschel plans on earning a Ph.D. — after he spends some time in the National Football League. He recently returned from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, a weeklong showcase where players perform tests in front of coaches, general managers and scouts. The NFL Draft takes place the first weekend in May.
Getting into the NFL has been his dream since high school, says Urschel, 22, who was born in Winnipeg, Canada. “It was kind of a long shot, but as I got farther along in my career, I started to see it becoming more realistic,” he says. “After my junior season [at Penn] people started talking about me for the NFL.”
