Daunte Culpepper is a poised, strong-armed quarterback who has all the tools. He runs a 4.6 in the 40, has a 36" vertical leap and can throw the ball 80 yards.
As a result of his play on the field and his enormous popularity among fans and media off the field, elevated the University of Central Florida from an average I-AA program upon his arrival to a powerful I-A program on the verge of a top-25 ranking upon his departure. He capped a stellar career by putting his name at the top of virtually every quarterback record (more than 30 in all) at UCF.
He also set an NCAA record for single-season completion percentage at .736, breaking a 15-year-old mark set by Steve Young (.713) and accomplished a feat equalled by only two others in NCAA history when he topped the 10,000 yard passing mark and the 1,000 yard rushing mark in his career. He finished his career with 11,412 yards passing and 1,020 yards rushing. The only other players to do so were Alcorn State's Steve McNair (1991-94) and Idaho's Doug Nussmeier (1990-93). He finished his career sixth on the NCAA's all-time total offense list for all divisions with 12,459 yards and was responsible for 108 career touchdowns (84 passing, 24 rushing).
He is very adept at reading coverages and changing plays at the line of scrimmage and has the uncanny ability to scramble despite his big frame. In the spring prior to his senior season he tested highest on the team in the power clean, an exercise he was not required to test on, and one that he did not train for, with a lift of 330. He was near the top of the team in the squat with 455 and also bench pressed 345. Prior to his senior year he was invited to play in the Hula Bowl, the East-West Shrine Bowl, the Senior Bowl, the Blue-Gray Game and the Inaugural All-Star Gridiron Classic.
Culpepper graduated from Ocala's Vanguard High School in 1995 where he played for coach Phil Yancey. He set the school record for career passing with 6,107 yards and 57 touchdowns in three seasons. He also rushed for 927 yards and 26 more touchdowns. He passed for 3,074 yards with 31 touchdowns and rushed for another 602 yards as a senior, earning All-America honors and the title "Mr. Football" by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association.
Culpepper led Vanguard to its first undefeated regular season and the Class 5A state championship game where a missed chip shot field goal as time expired gave Bradenton Southeast a 19-17 victory over the Knights. His stature grew in that game with a legendary scramble for first down on a 4th and 20 during the game's final drive. He completed eight of 13 passes for 137 yards in a winning effort in the annual Florida-Georgia High School All-Star Game.
Culpepper also lettered in basketball, baseball and weightlifting at Vanguard and was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 26th round, despite already signing with UCF. He averaged 19.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.3 steals on the hardwood. He was named to the honor roll as a senior. He chose UCF because of the commitment made by the coaching staff to stick by him even though he was in danger of not qualifying academically. After it appeared he was going to qualify, a lot of traditional football powers tried to persuade him to back away from his decision to sign with UCF.
Culpepper majored in secondary education. He was born Jan. 28, 1977 in Ocala, and is the son of Emma Culpepper. He is very popular in the community and participates in outreach opportunities to the underprivileged, stressing the importance of education. He served as a local spokesman on a televised public service announcement in conjunction with the Dr. Martin Luther King week of celebration in January, 1998. He is also an avid golfer.
