All-American Dan Brandenburg was a sack specialist for the Indiana State football team from 1993 to 1995. He was inducted into the 22nd Class of the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct., 3, 2013.
Brandenburg, a defensive end for the Sycamore football team, was selected in the seventh round of the National Football League’s player draft by the Buffalo Bills. He was the only Gateway Conference player taken in the draft. He played three seasons with the Bills and appeared in 42 games and started one while accumulating 13 tackles, one assist, and one fumble recovery.
Brandenburg was one of three Indiana State players to sign pro contracts at the conclusion of the 1995 campaign. Offensive tackle Omari Mangrum signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars while tailback David Wright was signed by Montreal of the Canadian Football League.
Brandenburg played in the 1995 Blue-Gray All-Star Football Game, becoming just the third Indiana State player to earn a trip to the Christmas Day Classic joining Vencie Glenn and Craig Shaffer. He also participated in the NFL’s Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
A three-time selection to the All-Gateway Conference team (1993, 1994, 1995), Brandenburg was named to several All-American teams during his career. He was selected to the first team by the American Football Coaches Association along with a second team selection by the Associated Press and Don Hansen’s Football Guide after his junior campaign. He was named to First Team by The Sporting News and American Football Quarterly after his senior season along with a third team selection by the Associated Press and an honorable mention selection by Don Hansen’s Football Guide.
In four seasons with the Sycamores, Brandenburg had 215 tackles (116 solo and 99 assist) while recording a school record 32 sacks. He also set the school record for sacks in a season with 13 during his sophomore campaign.
He led Indiana State with 15 tackles for loss as a junior, was sixth in total tackles with 66 (36 solo) and led the team in quarterback sacks with seven. As a senior, Brandenburg was fifth on the team in total tackles with 71 (38 solo), led the team in quarterback sacks with 11 and was credited with 20 hurries. He recorded a career high 16 tackles in a game against Southwest Missouri State as a sophomore while recording 66 tackles (36 solo) which ranked second on the team. He had his only interception of his collegiate career during his sophomore campaign which he returned for a touchdown against West Virginia Tech.
Brandenburg played outside linebacker as a redshirt freshman in 1992, recording 12 tackles (seven solo) and one sack.
He was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Silver Anniversary team in 2009 along with running back David Wright, defensive lineman Shannon Jackson, and defensive lineman Kyle Mitchell.
Brandenburg is the 29th football player to be inducted into the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame.
- All-Gateway Defensive Tackle (1993, 1994, 1995)
- All-American by American Football Coaches Association; second team All-American Associated Press and Dick Hansen’s Football Guide (1994).
- All-American by The Sports Network and American Football Quarterly; third team Associated Press; honorable mention All-American by Don Hansen’s Football Guide (1995).
- Missouri Valley Football Conference Silver Anniversary Team.
- Holds single season record with 13 sacks (1993)
- Fourth all-time in sacks.
- Played in 1995 Blue-Gray All-Star Game.
- Drafted in seventh round of 1996 National Football League draft by Buffalo Bills
- Inducted into Hall of Fame October 3, 2013
