He wears No. 7, and he plays quarterback for the Tiger football team. A native of Monroe and now a senior at Grambling State University, Brandon Landers, the man, feels there are five keys to his success.”First, it is all up to God,” Landers said. “Without him, nothing is possible. Second, are my coaches, and third, is my family. Whatever decision I have made they were behind me.”
“My teammates are fourth because they put their faith in me, and it is my job to produce. Last are the fans. It means a lot to have the support win, lose or draw.”
Born on Feb. 2, 1985, to the proud parents of Rebecca Landers and Larry Roman, Brandon took an interest in football as a child.
“It was always something that I wanted to do,” Landers said. “Watching Steve Young, Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice win Super Bowls gave me the inspiration to become a football player and win it all.”
Landers has many things that motivate him. Whether it was his grandmother or different coaches, he said he always wanted just to make it.
“I am from the projects, and I never wanted to be just a number,” Landers added. “My grandmother stayed on me. ‘Did you do your homework? What time are you suppose to be in?’ Things like that made me realize how important it is for me to make it.”
As a child Landers was a two-sport athlete (basketball and football), and in high school he was recruited by schools like Texas A&M, Louisiana Tech and ULM but decided to come to Grambling for many different reasons.
“Grambling always had that winning tradition,” Landers said. “I knew that I was going to win, and that’s where I wanted to be. I wanted to be in a place where I can win.”
Landers’ career has been full of ups and downs. As a freshman he took over for Heisman Trophy candidate Bruce Eugene and was the SWAC Freshman of the Year. Last year, in his first full year as a starter, the team went 3-8. But this year, the sky is the limit. This year the expectations are high.
“We expect nothing but the best. Coming off a 3-8 season last year and going into this year, we are confident, and we know what we can do.”
After Grambling, Landers plans to take his talents to the NFL. If that does not work out, then he wants to be a coach or work with the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
“I am going to graduate first,” Landers added. “I would love to be a US Marshall. I would love to protect our county, but to me, it is all about giving back. Through coaching or the force, I want to pay people back.