Hall of Fame
Position: Running Back
Years: 1997-98, 2000-01
Place of Birth: Fort Washington, MD
Date of Birth: September 2, 1979
Jersey Number: 20
Height: 5-10
Weight: 203
High School: DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)
One of the most versatile and tenacious players to ever set foot on the gridiron, Brian Westbrook did it all at Villanova, becoming the first player in college history to finish with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a season. The Fort Washington, Maryland, native now becomes the first Villanova player to ever enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
Westbrook became the first player in Villanova history to earn First Team All-America honors in three different seasons, spending time as a running back, wide receiver and as an all-purpose player. In 2001, he claimed the Walter Payton Award as the best Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) player in the nation after being a finalist the preceding season.
Playing for Hall of Fame Coach Andy Talley, Westbrook finished his Wildcat career holding 41 school records, 19 conference marks and five NCAA records. As a sophomore in 1998, the 5-9, 190-pound Westbrook became the only player in the history of college football at any level to rush for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season (1,046 rushing, 1,144 receiving).
A two-time Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and a three-time First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection, Westbrook rushed for 4,298 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He also amassed 2,582 receiving yards (averaging 11.7 yards per catch) and 30 receiving scores while adding 2,289 yards and five touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns. In the final game of his collegiate career, Westbrook broke the NCAA All-Divisions record with 9,512 career all-purpose yards. A two-time ECAC Player of the Year, the team went 31-15 during Westbrook's career, including an undefeated regular season in 1997 and conference titles in 1997 and 2001.
The school's all-time leading rusher and scorer, Westbrook was one of just five FCS players selected to play in the 2002 Senior Bowl. A 2005 Villanova Wall of Fame honoree, his jersey has been retired, and he was inducted into the Villanova Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2016.
A third-round pick (91st overall) in the 2002 NFL Draft by Philadelphia, Westbrook played for the Eagles from 2002-09, appearing in Super Bowl XXXIX. He played for San Francisco in 2010. Westbrook was a Pro Bowl selection twice (2004, 2007) and a First Team All-Pro pick in 2007. He was elected to the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team.
Westbrook works as an NFL analyst for FS1, the Bleacher Report and 97.5 The Fanatic. He established the Brian Westbrook Foundation, which serves underprivileged youth by enriching their financial knowledge, leadership and life skills, and vocational training.
