National Football Foundation

A four-year starter for the Boilermakers, Joe Holland has been a bedrock for Purdue while excelling in the classroom. He becomes school's third NFF National Scholar-Athlete and first since Drew Brees in 2000.

With a sterling 3.96 GPA in movement and sport science, Holland has recorded only one "B" in his entire college career. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, he is also a three-time CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-District selection and a Second Team Academic All-American in 2010.

With 284 career tackles, Holland ranks 14th among the nation's active career leaders, and he will soon rank among the top 20 tacklers in Purdue history. The 2011 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List honoree has never made fewer than 73 tackles in a season, ranking third or higher on the club all four seasons of his career. He currently leads the team with 54 tackles, and he has also posted 3.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, two pass breakups and two passes defended. For his career, Holland has totaled 20.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception.

An Indianapolis native, Holland volunteers weekly at a local retirement home, participates as an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, assists with the "Reading is Leading" initiative and annually donates blood to the American Red Cross. He has also volunteered at Riley's Children's Hospital Dance Marathon and as a camp counselor for special needs children and adults.

Holland signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent after the 2012 NFL Draft and appeared on the rosters of the 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 and 2013. He is currently attending the Indiana University School of Dentistry.