Myron Rolle excels on the football field as free safety for the Florida State Seminoles. He also excels in the classroom.

Rolle, a junior defensive back for the Seminoles, is also a Rhodes Scholar and completed his Bachelor’s degree in pre-med in under three years. He even graduated high school a full semester ahead of his class and immediately enrolled in college, picking FSU among 83 total scholarships.

His on-field performance has opened some eyes too. Rolle could be found on many draft experts’ Top 50 for the 2009 NFL Draft. The first round, and the lucrative money that comes with being a first rounder, was not a long shot if he used workouts and the combine as a springboard.

But instead of leaving school and closing the door for academic opportunities, Rolle decided to take advantage of the Rhodes Scholarship and head to Oxford, England to study medical anthropology.

His player profile is loaded with academic achievements. He began studying for a Master’s in Public Administration in September and was awarded a 2008 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award for his work studying human mesenchymal stem cells.

Now, Rolle’s 206 career tackles and 40 solo tackles in 2008 won’t matter for at least another year.

While the sports media dwells on the Pacman Jones and Plaxico Burress sagas, and whom the Detroit Lions will take No. 1 overall, Rolle is truly the story to watch.

Rolle continues to defy the stereotype of athletes. He’s not all about sports or money. He’s not in jail, on trial, getting shot at or being questioned about performance-enhancing drugs. Instead he has a plan for life. After attending Oxford for the 2009 to 2010 academic year, he will enter the 2010 NFL draft.

Rolle realizes he can’t play football forever, which is why he plans on pursuing a medical degree after the NFL and opening a medical clinic in the Bahamas, where he grew up.

Players such as a Myron Rolle can be found on nearly any team. They excel off the field in many ways, whether it’s in the classroom, performing volunteer community service work or in another facet of life.

Take NIU’s own Matt Simon for example. Simon, a wide receiver for the Huskies football team, was also named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team in October for his work within the NIU, DeKalb, Sycamore and Oswego communities.

Simon helped organize NIU football players to serve meals at Hope Haven Homeless Shelter three times a week this spring. He also helped raise money for the American Red Cross Spring Fund Drive, coordinated a group of NIU football volunteers for the 2008 Special Olympics in Oswego, and assisted with the NIU College of Business “Dress for Success” Fashion Show and at the Virginia Tech Vigil on the NIU campus.

Simon was the first Huskie to ever be named to the Good Works team, but if more follow his lead, he won’t be the last.

Players like Myron Rolle and Matt Simon are role models to their teammates and their communities.

A role model is someone who serves as an example for positive behavior. The world of sports is desperate for more and the nearest cereal box or ESPN may not be the places to look.

There are role models left in sports. Just look around. You’ll find them.