NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former Vanderbilt linebacker Andre Mintze has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos to join the NFL organization as an undrafted free agent.
A two-time captain, Mintze owned a variety of leadership roles within the team and was a starting linebacker for the last two years. A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Mintze helped Vanderbilt to an appearance in the 2018 Texas Bowl and consecutive victories against in-state rival Tennessee (2017-18).
Music City ➡️ Mile High City@dremintze joins the @Broncos.#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/TvvVdhwRY4
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) May 2, 2021
He played in 43 career games for the Commodores and made 18 starts. He totaled 75 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three caused fumbles, one fumble recovery and five quarterback pressures.
A 2020 preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection, Mintze contributed 21 tackles, 5.5 stops for lost yardage, 4.0 sacks, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and two quarterback pressures during the season. He was an SEC Community Service Team and Academic Honor Roll member in addition to being one of 10 semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and one of 30 candidates for Senior CLASS Award.
During the 2019 season, Mintze booked a career-high 40 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He tallied a season-high six tackles against UNLV and Missouri and registered a personal-best 2.0 sacks at Ole Miss. His 2.0 tackles for loss against Missouri in 2019 helped the Commodores to a 21-14 victory against the nationally-ranked Tigers. Mintze earned 10 tackles in 2018 and started his first game, against Tennessee State. He booked his first collegiate sack in the Texas Bowl against Baylor to end the campaign. During his first season, in 2017, Mintze played in 11 games and booked five tackles.
Off the field, Mintze embodied the best of what Vanderbilt football student-athletes stand for. He earned his undergraduate degree in medicine, health and society in December, 2019, and will receive his master’s degree in the same field this May. He is also an aspiring vlogger with Dre Mintze TV.
Mintze has given back to the Vanderbilt community primarily through his annual Dancing Dores philanthropy program, a partnership between Dance Marathon, which is an organization that raises funds for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, and Vanderbilt’s Athletic Department. All revenue generated goes to the hospital. For his efforts, Mintze received the 2020 Vanderbilt Athletics Godfrey Dillard Courage Award, presented annually since 2016-17 to the Commodore who overcomes adversity on or off the field, honoring the legacy of Godfrey Dillard.
