KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs added another prestigious honor to his lengthy off-field resume on Tuesday.
When the senior showed up for his usual Tuesday meeting with the media, he was informed he'd been accepted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the nation's premier leadership honor society recognizing achievements in scholarship, athletics, community service and other areas.
"With the application and everything, my parents helped me out with that," Dobbs said. "This is my frst time knowing I've been accepted. It came as a surprise and an honor. When I saw Marshall (Steward, the associate director of Tennessee's Thornton Center who works with the football program) down here, he's not normally down here for media. It came as a surprise and it's definitely a huge honor and I'm thankful for it."
The society's membership of more than 300,000 members includes two Tennessee greats in the late Pat Summitt and Peyton Manning in addition to multiple former U.S. presidents and other distinguished figures.
Dobbs's off-field endeavors have been well-documented, from his rigorous academic schedule as an aerospace engineering major to his interactions within children in the Knoxville community.
"You realize what they did in their respective areas, but they're mainly known for their leadership," Dobbs said. "To be a part of a group that's very prestigious, it's an honor and privilege. I'm very thankful to be a part of it."
Dobbs is nearing the end of his Tennessee career, during which he's been a model student-athlete and handled to role as the face of the football program with the maximum amount of class and grace.
With an possible SEC championship game appearance and 10-win season still on the line for the Vols this season, Dobbs's on-field legacy remains unfinished.
He'll play his final home game at Neyland Stadium next week against Missouri.
"Of course you think about that," he said, "but you can't let that consume your thoughts. Then you'll start playing outside of yourself and not how you play and not taking it one game at a time, but trying to make something happen when if you just trust the rules of the play and trust the rules of the game.
"The legacy will come and whatever you want to leave will come, but you have to just trust in yourself, trust in your ability and just focus on the little details to be successful if you want to do that."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.