National Football Foundation

A three-year starter at center under College Football Hall of Fame coach Don Nehlen at West Virginia, Eric de Groh led the Mountaineers to a 23-13 record and three bowl appearances while earning Third Team All-American honors in 1998. A three-time Academic All-American, he compiled a 3.85 GPA in biology and was named the WVU Foundation’s Outstanding Senior. Selected to the AFCA Good Works Team, de Groh volunteered at WVU’s Children’s Hospital, spoke to numerous youth groups and camps and conducted cancer research. He received his master’s in medical sciences from the University of South Florida in 2005 and his Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010. He is currently an associate director of medical writing for Apellis Pharmaceuticals in Cleveland, Ohio.