National Football Foundation

The epitome of the term “student-athlete,” California’s Alex Mack possessed the perfect blend of academic excellence, athletic prowess and community leadership, rising to the top as the nation’s best in 2008.
 
Graduating magna cum laude with a 3.61 GPA in legal studies, Mack was recognized for his on-field dominance as a two-time First-Team All-American in 2007 and 2008. A four-time All-Pac 10 selection (twice a unanimous first-team pick), the team captain also received the Morris Trophy two times as the conference’s best offensive lineman.

A two-time Rimington Trophy finalist, he led an offensive unit that allowed the fewest sacks (24) in the Pac-10 in 2006 and 2007.
 
Mack built a reputation for juggling his academic and athletic pursuits, and his teammates admired him for always having a book in hand. Mack’s academic laurels include being a four-time Academic All-Pac-10 selection and a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District pick.
 
Named the Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year in football, he also earned Cal’s Neufeld Scholar-Athlete Award as the top male senior student-athlete.

A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Mack was the literal poster boy for Cal’s “Dancing with the Stars” fundraising event, which raised money for underprivileged children in the San Francisco area. The Santa Barbara, California, native also regularly participated in an after-school program with local elementary schools.
 
Drafted 21st overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, Mack started 80 consecutive games at center for the Browns from 2009-13. Mack guided the Atlanta Falcons to an appearance in Super Bowl LI while playing for the team from 2016-20 before joining the San Francisco 49ers for the 2021 season. The seven-time Pro Bowler was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Since joining the NFL, he has taken part in numerous USO trips to connect with deployed U.S. troops.