By Sean McDevitt
FightingIllini.com
Brandon Lloyd has achieved many milestones.
His collegiate career at Illinois includes first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2001, an appearance in the Sugar Bowl and an outright Big Ten Championship. Additionally, he set school records for receiving yards in 2001 and 2002, and for all-purpose yards in 2001.
After being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, his 11 seasons as a pro included leading the NFL in receiving yards in 2010 and being named to the 2011 Pro Bowl.
However, nothing has been more important than his latest achievement.
University of Illinois graduate.
Lloyd, along with 116 Fighting Illini student-athletes, earned his communication degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Science. It was the completion of a promise made many years ago.
Pathways to Success
Lloyd is the youngest of seven children in a close-knit family. His parents, both retired high school teachers, pushed education as a pathway to success. Any advantage through a college degree, relationships or sports was encouraged.
"I chose the University of Illinois over some of the other colleges, Division I colleges where I could have prepared to be a professional athlete only," said Lloyd. "I chose the University of Illinois because at that time I wanted to have a career in broadcast journalism. We were always preparing for what if athletics didn't work out."
Leaving school was definitely not on his parents agenda. He has said in the past that he made his mother cry with his decision to enter the draft and pursue a career in the NFL.
A different reception occurred when he decided to return to school and complete his degree.
"I think the biggest reaction was three years ago when I told them that I was going back to school to finish my undergraduate. It was kind of like they were visibly taken back, like they were excited that I was going to fulfill that commitment," said Lloyd.
Graduation day was a mind-boggling experience.
"It was definitely surreal to be able to have this academic life goal, bucket list achievement on the same field that I had all these life goal bucket list achievements as an athlete," said Lloyd.
"Being down there I was just flashing back to the catch in the south end zone versus the Wisconsin Badgers, clinching the Big Ten championship on our way to the Sugar Bowl, or breaking the freshman receiving record right on that field. It was really a overwhelming experience."
Leadership and Integrity
Looking back at his college days, Lloyd was appreciative of the mentors he had.
"The biggest part was having mentors like Michael Dean take the time to see the potential inside me and give me advice on being a student athlete. Josh Whitman was another mentor. He led by example with his work ethic as an athlete, and he led by example with his work ethic as a student. So it is great to see him in a leadership role where he has been so impactful."
Lloyd has a unique perspective on current Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith. Lloyd played for Smith in 2008 when they were both with the Chicago Bears.
"When it comes to Lovie Smith, playing for him, he was the most disciplined professional I have been around. And that's players and coaches. It's inspiring to see a black man in the roles he's in with that amount of humility. I hope that those are the messages these young black athletes are able to get out of having Coach Smith lead the program."
Being able to fulfill his promise to earn his degree was important to Lloyd not only to help him pursue his post-NFL career, but to set an example for his children.
"What I hope I'm teaching them is to do what you say you're going to do," said Lloyd. "I made a commitment to not only my parents, but I made a commitment to Ron Turner, and, of course, Greg McMahon who spent all those months recruiting me out of Blue Springs, Missouri. I made commitments to the University of Illinois that I was going to come to campus and represent the university as a student-athlete. And so I'm fulfilling that commitment. I think that falls into the category of integrity."
Second Phase
One of the key ingredients in finishing his academic requirements was his academic advisor, Barbara Hall. Lloyd left school in a flurry of activity preparing for the draft and the NFL combine and wasn't sure what his standing was with the university.
"I've been emailing her throughout my career in the interest of me completing the remaining course load. So to call and get back in contact with the university 12 years later and know that everything was still in order was great. My transcripts were still in place and there was a path to completing it. She made the process efficient. Barbara Hall is fantastic."
The NFL has a program in which they'll reimburse up to $60,000 to active and retired players for their continued education. Lloyd took advantage of the program with classes at Metropolitan State University in Denver. Lloyd and Hall worked with the staff there to create the map needed to fulfill his degree credits.
Earning his degree, Lloyd is onto the next phase of his career. Joining the Colorado-based firm, Trilogy Mountain Medical, he's moving into cervical spine medical device sales. He sees it as an opportunity to assist surgeons in the operating room and providing a better quality of life for patients. It is a career he would not be able to pursue without a degree.
"When I retired from the NFL, people would say 'You don't need a degree. You're you. You don't need that.' But I always thought about the values and the examples my brothers and sisters put in place before me, listened to the advice of my parents, and then took advantage of the opportunity to finish my degree because it was important."
