No one has ever confused Myron Rolle for an average college student. For one thing, the 6'2" safety at Florida State has NFL scouts drooling; for another, he's already earned his pre-med degree in two-and-a-half years. But his itinerary last weekend was particularly extraordinary. On Nov. 22, the Seminoles' safety jetted off to Birmingham, Ala., where he sat for a final interview for the Rhodes Scholarship, generally viewed as the country's most prestigious. After learning he was one of the 32 student-athletes in the country to earn the honor — and with it, two years of study at England's vaunted Oxford University — Rolle flew to College Park, Md., joined his teammates late in the second quarter and helped Florida State to a pivotal win over the Maryland. TIME caught up with Rolle to discuss his jam-packed schedule, his inspirations, and whether he'll opt for the NFL or Oxford.

While attending Oriel Boys School (Hindhead Avenue, Chisipite, Harare, Zimbabwe), the hero of the student body was a certain Tonderai Hondo. He was a hero because he dominated his class, which was at the top (A1) of his form (sixth), and he was the star of the rugby team. (Tonderai was also great at cricket, long jump, high jump, pole vaulting, and throwing a javelin.) We worshiped Tonderai like there was no tomorrow. When you saw him bolting with a ball or decimating an opponent during a debate, you knew that he was who you wanted to be. To be you, even if you were in A1 or A2 of your form, was nothing because you were not exactly the same as Tonderai—the absolute student with a place waiting for him at Cambridge. I even recall he was good a basketball, and he could recite whole passages from Jane Austen's novels. Those who are half-man/half-amazing are the rarest sorts, the flowers of any society, the ideal subjects of the state.