Culpepper primed for success

Tampa (Fla.) Plant quarterback Rex Culpepper has a lot going for him in terms of being set up for success as a football player.

For starters, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior has football in his blood. His father, Brad Culpepper, played in the NFL for nine seasons (1992-2000) as a defensive tackle for the Vikings, Bucs and Bears.

His mother, Monica Culpepper, has a competitive edge, having participated with Brad in the reality TV show "Survivor," where she finished runner-up.

And as the quarterback for Plant, Culpepper is following in the footsteps of four predecessors who all won state championships and enjoyed success at the college level.

Culpepper, who holds 15 offers, participated in the Orlando Rivals Speed & Skill Challenge Presented by Under Armour last weekend and more than held his own.

According to Plant coach Robert Weiner, Culpepper's recent camp performance is another step in a series of progressions the three-star signal caller has made in the last few years.

"He's improved tremendously," Weiner said. "When he was a freshman, he had a funky throwing motion and hadn't really grown into his body yet. But he's put the time and work in to be as good as he can and he's very dedicated. He's one, where, in the end, if he has success and can lead his team, you're happy for him because of the amount of work and care he puts in."

Changing a throwing motion is not easy and requires a lot of trust in the plan to deviate from old habits.

However, if there was anyone who was qualified to show Culpepper the ropes, it was Weiner.

Under Weiner's leadership, Plant has had a remarkable run of quarterbacks dating back to 2006. Robert Marve, Aaron Murray, Phillip Ely and James Few were the program's four quarterbacks before Culpepper took over, and each led Plant to a state title.

Murray and Marve are currently playing professionally in the NFL and CFL, respectively. Ely, meanwhile, quarterbacks Toledo, and Few plays for Cornell.

Weiner knew Culpepper could reach the level of his predecessors if he put the work in.

"I think it has a lot to do with the trust factor," Weiner said. "He saw what we were able to do with the other guys and he trusted the process, which is hard because you're going to get worse before you get better. But he's such a good athlete that he was able to apply what we were showing him right away."

For Culpepper, getting to where he is today came down to one thing -- hard work.

"I spend hours with Coach Weiner," he said. "Seven days a week. We're at the fieldhouse every Saturday and Sunday, working long hours and you can see our time paying off."

The results can be seen in Culpepper's on-field production and in his recruitment. Last season, as a junior, he threw for 2,300 yards and 23 touchdowns against only six interceptions. He also completed 64 percent of his passes.

Plant finished the season 11-2 and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.

Culpepper's offers include Ole Miss, Ohio State, Clemson, Miami, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and Florida.

Culpepper considers Florida his dream school and it's easy to understand why. Not only did his father play for the Gators, but his grandfather and great uncle as well. His great grandfather also attended the university.

"I've grown up going to Gators games and I would consider it a dream school," Culpepper said. "But I'm not trying to force anything. Whatever happens, happens."

While Brad Culpepper would love for nothing more than to see his son wear orange, blue and white, he has no problem letting Rex's recruitment play out.

"A lot of outsiders think Florida's a home run," Brad said. "But he's taking his time and he's going to find the best fit for him. There's no pressure to go to Florida. It was a fit for me in 1987 as a defensive tackle, but we want him to go where he's happy and comfortable, whether that's Florida or not."

Wherever Culpepper lands, he'll have plenty of people in his corner who have gone through the experience of playing at the next level. In addition to his father and coach mentoring him, he has the support of what Weiner refers to as "the quarterback tree" of Marve, Murray, Ely and Few.

Weiner said all those quarterbacks -- including Rex -- stay in constant communication.

"There's a constant text conversation between all of us," Weiner said. "And they always come back to the school to do workouts and they help Rex when they're here. When they're all in town, we go out for a state championship quarterback dinner.

"Rex wants a seat at that table and at the end of the day, that's all he really wants."

Culpepper says joining the state title club is his top priority over anything else, including the recruiting process.

"I'm laid back when it comes to recruiting," he said. "That will take care of itself. Where I'm at now is I want to win a state championship and that's what I'm working toward."

Naturally, living up to the same high standard his predecessors set creates pressure for Culpepper. But none of that comes from members of Rex's football-accomplished family.

"There's zero pressure at home," Brad said. "He's already accomplished. He's never made anything less than an A. He's an Eagle Scout, he plays the piano and other instruments and that's all we ask from our kids, to be the best they can."

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