June 7, 2010
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By Leigh Torbin
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper was reunited with two of his former coaches on Monday as he signed a contract with the UFL's Sacramento Mountain Lions. The Ocala native is also a member of UCF's Athletic Hall of Fame.
In Sacramento he will play under his former Minnesota Vikings head coach Dennis Green while his offensive coordinator will be his old head coach at UCF, Mike Kruczek.
Named in All-American in 1998, Culpepper became just the third player in NCAA history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 in a career. He capped off his time as a Knight with a total of 11,412 career passing yards with 84 touchdowns and a 146.72 passing efficiency rating. Culpepper's 73.6-percent completion percentage in 1998 help up as an NCAA record for 10 years before finally being surpassed by Texas' Colt McCoy in 2008. He won the 1998 Sammy Baugh Trophy as the top quarterback in the nation and placed sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
Culpepper was taken with the 11th pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Vikings. He would make three trips to the Pro Bowl while with Minnesota, including the 2004 season where his 110.9 passing efficiency rating ranked fifth in NFL history at the time. He would later go on to play for the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions, making a total of 95 career NFL starts with 23,208 passing yards, 146 touchdowns and 101 interceptions for an 89.0 career passer rating.
To see the next wave of future professional Knights in action six times next fall at Bright House Networks Stadium, reserve your season tickets today! Information is available through the UCF Athletic Ticket office by calling (407) 823-1000 or online at UCFAthletics.com.