Ron Brace facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ron Brace

Brace with the New England Patriots in 2011
No. 92, 97
Position:	Nose tackle
Personal information
Born:	(1986-12-18)December 18, 1986 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died:	April 23, 2016 (aged 29) Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	330 lb (150 kg)
Career information
High school:	Worcester (MA) Burncoat
College:	Boston College
NFL Draft:	2009 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40
Career history
New England Patriots (2009–2012) Washington Redskins (2013)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-ACC (2008)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 39 Sacks: 0.0 Forced fumbles: 1 Fumble recoveries: 0 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Ronald Jeffery Brace III (born December 18, 1986 – died April 23, 2016) was an American football player. He played as a nose tackle. He was chosen by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Before playing professionally, he played college football at Boston College.

Early Life and High School Sports

Ronald Brace grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts. He went to Burncoat Senior High School. In his last year of high school, he was named an All-State player. He also earned all-star honors from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper.

Brace was a team captain and the most valuable player (MVP) for his football team in 2003. He was also very good at track and field. He won the state championship in shot put in both 2003 and 2004. Experts rated him as a 3-star recruit for college football. He chose to play for Boston College in February 2004.

College Football Journey

Ronald Brace started his college football career at Boston College in 2004. He spent that year as a "redshirt" player, meaning he practiced with the team but did not play in games. This allowed him to gain experience without using up a year of his playing eligibility.

First Years at Boston College

He played his first college game in 2005. That season, he made 11 tackles in 12 games. In 2006, Brace became a starter at defensive tackle. He played in 11 games and made 20 tackles. He also helped his team win the Meineke Car Care Bowl game.

Later College Success

In 2007, Brace continued to improve. He had 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He was recognized as an honorable mention for the All-ACC team. In his senior year in 2008, he was a strong player on the team. He played in all 14 games and made 27 tackles. After this season, he was named to the second-team All-ACC.

Becoming a Professional Player

Before the 2009 NFL Draft, scouts measured Ronald Brace's athletic skills. These tests help teams decide which players to draft.

Playing for the New England Patriots

The New England Patriots chose Ronald Brace in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He was the 40th player picked overall. In July 2009, he signed a four-year contract with the team.

2009 Season

Brace played in nine games during his first NFL season. He started two games as a nose tackle. He made eight tackles that year.

2010 Season

For the 2010 season, Brace moved to play defensive end. He started the first three games of the season. He made 23 tackles in 13 games. Unfortunately, he got a concussion during a game. He also had an elbow injury later in the season. He was placed on the injured reserve list before the playoffs.

Later Years with Patriots

Brace started the 2011 season on the "PUP" list, which means he was recovering from an injury. He returned to practice after six weeks. He was released by the Patriots in December 2012.

Time with Washington Redskins

In February 2013, Brace signed with the Washington Redskins. He was released by the team in August 2013.

Passing Away

Ronald Brace passed away on April 23, 2016, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was 29 years old. His death was caused by a heart condition.