Former Penn State football player and noted mathematician John Urschel will serve as this year’s Homecoming Grand Marshal, the organization announced Friday morning on its social media accounts.

Urschel graduated from Penn State in 2012 with his bachelor’s and in 2013 with his master’s degree, both in mathematics. He was then selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and played three seasons before announcing his retirement this summer. Urschel is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in mathematics at MIT.

“Penn State was a place where I not only found my love of mathematics but grew into the man I am today,” Urschel said. “If it wasn’t for Penn State, I don’t know where I would be today.”

The Homecoming theme for 2017 is “Embrace the Journey, Roar with Pride” and Homecoming also revealed its new logo at halftime of the Blue-White game.

This year’s Homecoming week will occur unseasonably late, from Sunday, November 5 through Sunday, November 12. It will also be held in conjunction with Penn State’s annual Military Appreciation Week. Both occasions will be recognized at the November 11 football game against Rutgers, which kicks off at noon.

The Grand Marshal will be present at many of Homecoming’s events throughout the week and will be featured in the parade Friday night. Students will have the opportunity to meet Urschel at Homecoming’s Ice Cream Social, held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, November 10 at Hintz Alumni Center.