NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Robert Coury, LB – Carnegie Mellon (PA)
3.97 GPA – Mechanical Engineering
Head Coach: Ryan Larsen | Athletics Director: Josh Centor
Faculty Athletics Representative: Rebecca Nugent
Recipient of New York Athletic Club Scholar-Athlete Award
A two-time First Team All-American, Robert Coury embodies everything the Campbell Trophy® represents, leading Carnegie Mellon in tackles each of the last three seasons while producing a near flawless 3.97 GPA in the classroom. The Phillipsburg, New Jersey, native now becomes the sixth NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
Coury graduated summa cum laude in May with a degree in mechanical engineering, and he is currently pursuing a master's in the same field. A two-time CSC First Team Academic All-American, he is a member of the Dean's List and has made the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) four times.
By the end of his first three seasons, Coury had amassed 280 tackles (third in Tartan annals), 44 tackles for loss (a school record), 17 sacks, 11 pass break ups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick in his first three seasons, and he continues to add to his totals, which now include 330 tackles (needing just 28 more for the record), 20 sacks, and 55.5 tackles for loss. He was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award in 2022, which goes to the top defensive player in Division III, and he has been named to the D3Football.com All-Region team three times.
A three-year team captain with 43 starts, Coury is the force behind a Carnegie Mellon defense that has led the PAC in scoring defense for the last three seasons, and his efforts have helped the Tartans to back-to-back PAC titles in 2021 and 2022. The 2022 squad posted a perfect 10-0 regular season, finishing with a No. 14 national ranking, the highest in school history. In 2023, the team finished 10-1, winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Asa. S. Bushnell Bowl. The Tartans are currently 5-1 and rank third in the PAC.
Coury has landed impressive internships with Mack Trucks, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group; Tesla; and Curtiss-Wright. He has volunteered with the Special Olympics, "Be the Match" bone marrow registration, and has packed meals for the Rise Against Hunger Foundation. He is a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, the Sports Analytics Club and Cru. His twin brother, Tommy, also plays for CMU.
(All stats as of Oct. 23, 2024)
