Purdue University senior linebacker Stanford Keglar, a star among defensive football enthusiasts, has a lot to look forward to at this stage of his life.
This Sunday the 22-year-old will graduate from Purdue with a degree in sociology and complete the foundation he a built for a career in the pro arena.
“Everything’s working out and I’m about to graduate, so things are going well,” Keglar said.
Although Keglar finished out his senior year ranked as one of the top linebackers among Big Ten teams, the Boilermakers endured a difficult season, finishing 7-5 (3-5 Big Ten.)
“Honestly I think we had a disappointing season,” said Keglar. “We played well in a couple of games and had the potential for a great team this year, but didn’t live up to expectations.”
However, like the rest of his team Keglar has pragmatically put the regular season behind him and is now focusing on Purdue’s highly anticipated Dec. 26 game against Central Michigan (8-5) during the Motor City Bowl in Detroit.
“After the way our regular season ended, our hope is to play one more game and make it our best game,” said Purdue head coach Joe Tiller. “We are excited to be involved in the bowl scene again against an extremely talented Central Michigan team.”
Keglar, an Indianapolis native, was recognized as one of the state’s Top Ten overall players while helping Pike High School win its first conference championship in many years. In 2003 he was recruited to be a part of Tiller’s efforts to turn the fortunes of Purdue’s team around, and has not disappointed.
Keglar, who is also skilled at swimming and track and field, is known for his well-rounded athleticism, which is uncommon among linebackers. Tiller recently noted that Keglar has evolved into a strategic player who makes great plays and stays in position.
“He’s starting to show maturity on the field,” said Tiller. “He’s been in position for all the plays this season.”
For his success Keglar immediately gave credit to his parents and the coaches he has worked with in high school and college. Athletically, he counts players such as Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher and Terrell Owens as role models who have a real passion for the game.
“We’re very proud of Stanford,” said his father, Shelvy Keglar, a local doctor who once played basketball for Arkansas State. “I’m not a football expert, but I’ve been told he’s destined for the pros because of his speed and athleticism. We’re excited about the possibilities available to him.”
Stanford Keglar, who enjoys playing piano and string bass in his spare time, said he has enjoyed his experience at Purdue. After the Motor City Bowl he will train for participation in Purdue’s Pro Day to catch the attention of NFL scouts.
As a potential top draft pick, Keglar is not picky about which pro team he ends up with.
“I grew up in Indianapolis and I’ve always been a Colts fan, so it would be awesome to play for them because they’re a great team,” he said. “But there’s really no one team I always wanted to play for. It would just be nice to have the opportunity to get out there and really just show the extent of my potential.”
