Bradlee Van Pelt

Bradlee Van Pelt graduated from San Marcos High School in 1999 and was a nationally recognized quarterback at Colorado State. An exceptional college football career led him to be selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

While at CSU, Van Pelt became only the fourth player in NCAA history to throw for at least 5,000 yards and rush for more than 2,000 yards during a career. During his senior season, Van Pelt flirted with becoming the first collegiate quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. He led the Rams to three consecutive bowl appearances and was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year twice.

At San Marcos, he was recruited from Santa Barbara after a senior season in which he excelled at two positions. Van Pelt totaled 1,265 yards and 13 touchdowns throwing and 1,294 yards and 24 TDs rushing. On defense, he had 41 tackles and three interceptions. He was named the CIF Division IV Player of the Year, adding the Channel League MVP and All-County Player of the Year awards.

Van Pelt started his college career at Michigan State before transferring to Colorado State. He played three games in the NFL during his two-year stint as a backup with the Broncos. He also spent time with the Houston Texans.

His San Marcos career included being a member of the Royals’ 1998 CIF champion boys’ soccer team. He was a three-sport athlete adding baseball in the spring.

Van Pelt’s coach at Colorado State, Sonny Lubick, described his quarterback as a special football player.

“I’ve never seen a player as competitive and as tough as Bradlee Van Pelt. He willed us to victories,” said Lubick, who gave Van Pelt the opportunity to play quarterback in college. “(I told him) ‘we’re going to give you a shot at quarterback. Now if you don’t make it don’t come crying to me. Don’t come back to me.’ And he went out there and you could see each game he got a little bit better and became something special. He worked so hard.”