National Football Foundation

A man of remarkable character, Oklahoma's Carl Pendleton has established himself as a community leader, academic scholar and key defensive player while battling family hardships.

A Sociology major, Pendleton has maintained a 3.86 grade point average and has twice earned First Team Academic All-Conference recognition, despite the rigors of taking legal guardianship of his nine-year-old brother. A Dean's List member, he claimed the Jay Meyers Outstanding Student-Athlete Award and earned a spot on the Big-12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. A large presence on the OU defensive line at six-foot-five, 285 pounds, Pendleton made key contributions as a starter on Oklahoma's 2004 Big-12 Champion and Orange Bowl team that played for the National Championship. 

A participant in the 2006 NCAA Leadership Conference, Pendleton participated as a finalist in the OU Josh Lee Public Speaking Competition. A Sunday School teacher, he serves as a motivational speaker and volunteers with Big Brothers & Big Sisters. Pendleton becomes the eighth National Scholar-Athlete for the Sooners and the first since 2003 honoree Renaldo Works. 

Pendleton's dedication has earned high praise from head coach Bob Stoops. "He has balanced family responsibilities with a broad range of campus involvement and still became a starter in one of the nation's premier programs," Stoops said. "I respect him as a person and trust him as much as any player I have ever coached." Pendleton is currently a master police officer and recruiter for the Norman Police Department.