By Jason Bolton August 05, 2024 10:08
Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
The story of Cameron Brate's rise from Harvard University to the NFL is a unique blend of academic and athletic amidst football greatness. Entering the league as an under-the-radar tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brate has rapidly left his mark on Sundays while utilizing a rare Ivy League pedigree to make his way through life in professional sports. This article delves into how Brate's training at Harvard had armed him with the tools, perspective, and grit to become an NFL success story.
Academic and Athletic Achievements at Harvard
Cameron Brate spent 2010 to 2013 at Harvard University studyingEconomics. His academic success has been well-noted, as he was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, known informally as the "Academic Heisman." The prestigious honor is awarded to student-athletes with a rare combination of academic achievement, athletic prowess, and community roles. These aspects require quite some juggling on Brate's part as he competes for preparation time.
Brate was an exceptional athlete on the field. Over three seasons, the Harvard Crimson man caught 91 passes for 1,381 yards and found pay dirt a total of times among the prestigious Ivy League, twice earning first-team All-Ivy honors while also receiving second-team recognition against his competition. This not only showed off his wide range of skills but also proved he could succeed in a competitive setting, something that would serve him well as an NFL player.
Brate learned more than just math at Harvard. He graduated with sharper critical thinking skills and increased discipline, thanks partly to his new understanding of time constraints. The program's challenging academic setting forced him to learn time management as he simultaneously tackled heavy coursework and football.
In addition to his scholarship in economics, Brate uniquely approached financial literacy as a former student-athlete. He has spoken publicly of his efforts to plan for financial life after hoops and occasionally offered investment guidance to teammates regarding the market. His economics background has set Brate up to manage the financial minefield that accompanies professional football, and it largely explains why he did not come closer than other NFL veterans in his playing days.
Hurdles of Adapting to the NFL
The jump from college to NFL football is challenging for any player, and Brate had his challenges. An undrafted free agent in 2014, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waivedhim during final cuts last season. It may have been enough to derail his career, but Brate's resilience built up over time at Harvard kept helping him fight back. He was released and signed to the Buccaneer's practice squad a short time later but eventually made his way onto the active roster.
NFL Career Highlights
To date, Cameron Brate has accomplished a lot in the NFL, a testament to how useful his Harvard education was in building him for professional success. In his time with the Buccaneers, he has been a go-to receiver in critical situations and is best known for coming up big when thrown to.
The year that put him on the map was 2016, when he caught 57 passes for 660 yards and eight touchdowns, helping elevate himself as one of the upper-tier tight ends in pro football. On May 2, 2018, he signed a six-year contract with the Buccaneers worth $40.80 million overall and an average annual salary of around $6,800,000.
His academic success, coupled with the edge and toughness he developed during his time at Harvard, has seen him navigate professional football, if not easily. While he continues to navigate the NFL waters, Brate is a tangible reminder that what goes on in classrooms every day can lead to great success. His story is a beacon for budding athletes, highlighting that greatness can be attained anywhere if you stay disciplined and work hard to upskill continuously.
SHOP Mystery Signed Memorabilia
-
Mystery Signed Football 8x10 Photo
- Regular price
- $29.99
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $29.99
- Unit price
- / per
-
Mystery Signed Baseball Jersey
- Regular price
- $69.99
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $69.99
- Unit price
- / per
-
Mystery Signed Football Jersey
- Regular price
- $69.99
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $69.99
- Unit price
- / per
-
Mystery Signed Baseball 8x10 Photo
- Regular price
- $29.99
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $29.99
- Unit price
- / per
LATEST
- NEWS
- |
- ARTICLES
- |
- VIDEOS
NFL
What If the Atlanta Falcons Won Super Bowl LI I...
By Jocelyn Alano
Thu, Aug 08, 2024
NFL
What if the 2000 Baltimore Ravens Had a Differe...
By Jocelyn Alano
Thu, Aug 08, 2024
NFL
Player Safety vs. Game Integrity: The Concussio...
By Arslan Saleem
Wed, Aug 07, 2024
NFL
The Impact of Concussions: Are Sports Doing Eno...
By Oliver Wiener
Wed, Aug 07, 2024
NFL
The Impact of Athlete Activism on Sports Sponso...
By Oliver Wiener
Wed, Aug 07, 2024
NFL
Anthony Richardson is 'more comfortable' in the...
By Jay Postrado
Wed, Aug 07, 2024
NFL
Will the Colts miss Josh Downs amid training camp?
By Jay Postrado
Wed, Aug 07, 2024
NFL
The NFL Draft: How Teams Strategize to Build Wi...
By Fan Arch
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
Aaron Rodgers: The Art of Quarterbacking in the...
By Fan Arch
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
The NFL's Greatest Rivalries: A Historical Pers...
By Arslan Saleem
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
The New England Patriots: Analyzing Bill Belich...
By Oliver Wiener
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
The Dallas Cowboys: America's Team and Their En...
By Jocelyn Alano
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
The NFL's Most Influential Players: Shaping the...
By Oliver Wiener
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
The NFL's Most Memorable Super Bowl Moments: A ...
By Edcel Panganiban
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
The Impact of Tom Brady on NFL Quarterback Play
By Jason Bolton
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
Kansas City Chiefs' Harrison Butker Set to Beco...
By Jordan Samar
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
Patrick Mahomes: Revolutionizing the Quarterbac...
By Jocelyn Alano
Tue, Aug 06, 2024
NFL
Is Willis McGahee in the Hall of Fame?
By Edcel Panganiban
Mon, Aug 05, 2024
NFL
Why Kyle Juszczyk Deserves to be in the Hall of...
By Fan Arch
Fri, Aug 02, 2024
NFL
Ryan Fitzpatrick: The Harvard Grad Who Conquere...
By Edcel Panganiban
Fri, Aug 02, 2024
NFL
Sid Luckman: The Columbia Connection to NFL His...
By Fan Arch
Fri, Aug 02, 2024
NFL
Shannon Sharpe: From Savannah State to NFL Star...
By Edcel Panganiban
Fri, Aug 02, 2024
NFL
What is Jim Harbaugh's Net Worth?
By Arslan Saleem
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
The top 10 Worst NFL Coaches of All-Time
By Jocelyn Alano
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
Robert Kraft and Myra Kraft: Celebrating the Le...
By Fan Arch
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
John Harbaugh and Ingrid Harbaugh: The Winning ...
By Arslan Saleem
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
Matt Ryan and Sarah Marshall: A Quarterback's J...
By Jocelyn Alano
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
Exploring the Concept of Fanatics Fest NYC: A C...
By Jocelyn Alano
Fri, Aug 02, 2024
NFL
Mack Hollins: The Journey of an NFL Wide Receiver
By Edcel Panganiban
Fri, Aug 02, 2024
NFL
Roman Wilson: Rising Star in College Football a...
By Arslan Saleem
Fri, Aug 02, 2024
NFL
What made Courtland Sutton attend Broncos train...
By Jay Postrado
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
Devin White senses great things ahead of Eagles...
By Jay Postrado
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
Why Chase Young is turning heads at Saints trai...
By Jay Postrado
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
Why Mike Macdonald is spicing up the Seahawks t...
By Jay Postrado
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
DJ Moore’s goal in revamping Bears WR history
By Jay Postrado
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love Drops Hilarious ...
By Jordan Samar
Thu, Aug 01, 2024
NFL
Tee Higgins’ reason for settling amid messy Ben...
By Jay Postrado
Wed, Jul 31, 2024
NFL
Falcons’ Arthur Blank makes big Kirk Cousins st...
By Jay Postrado
Wed, Jul 31, 2024
NFL
What Kyle Juszczyk feels about taking a pay cut...
By Jay Postrado
Wed, Jul 31, 2024
NFL
Kayvon Thibodeaux’s ‘greatness’ goal with Giant...
By Jay Postrado
Wed, Jul 31, 2024
NFL
The Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks of the 1960s
By Edcel Panganiban
Tue, Jul 30, 2024
NFL
Who are the famous football players in Omega Ps...
By Jocelyn Alano
Tue, Jul 30, 2024
NFL
Why did Sage Steele Leave ESPN?
By Arslan Saleem
Tue, Jul 30, 2024
NFL
What Happened to Matthew Berry?
By Edcel Panganiban
Tue, Jul 30, 2024
NFL
Who are the Hosts of ESPN Fantasy Football?
By Jocelyn Alano
Tue, Jul 30, 2024
NFL
Tragedy to Triumph: The Story of Xavier Legette...
By Oliver Wiener
Mon, Jul 29, 2024
NFL
The Jordan Travis Story: From FSU to the New Yo...
By Fan Arch
Mon, Jul 29, 2024
NFL
How Many Offers Did Ladd McConkey Have in High ...
By Fan Arch
Tue, Jul 30, 2024
NFL
Beyond the Gridiron: Dan and Claire Marino's Li...
By Jason Bolton
Mon, Jul 29, 2024
More Stories
FAN ARCH PODCAST NETWORK