Former Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper died of injuries suffered in a dirt biking accident in Georgia on Saturday, the school announced Monday. He was 28.
“Rex lived his life with endless passion, having overcome cancer at the age of 20 while playing for the Orange,” Syracuse posted on X. “Appearing in 30 games, Rex played football as fiercely as he loved life. Our hearts are with the Culpepper family and all those who loved him.”
Culpepper, who played for the Orange from 2016 through 2020, spent most of his career as a backup but was promoted to a starter numerous times. Culpepper’s senior year was his best statistically, when he appeared in 10 games (five starts) and completed 94 of 190 passes for 1,028 yards and nine touchdowns.
Culpepper’s trajectory was slowed when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in March 2018. He appeared in six games that year but did not record a statistic. He was later nominated for the 2018 FWAA Courage Award. Culpepper underwent chemotherapy and even played in Syracuse’s spring game while undergoing treatment, throwing for a late touchdown in the exhibition. He was declared cancer-free by June of that year.
Rex is the son of former NFL defensive tackle Brad Culpepper, who played for the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears over nine NFL seasons from 1992 to 2000. Rex’s brother, Judge, was a defensive tackle for Penn State and had a brief stint at Toledo.
Rex played in all 12 games and started one as a redshirt freshman in 2017, completing 45 of 75 passes for 518 yards. In Culpepper’s next season, he switched to play tight end midway through the campaign, but he returned to quarterback for his final two seasons.
Culpepper was ranked the No. 7 quarterback in Florida by Scout.com, and 247 Sports ranked him the No. 44 pro-style quarterback recruit in 2016. A Tampa, Fla., native, Culpepper threw for 2,145 yards and 21 touchdowns in his high school career.
Culpepper became a lawyer in Florida and passed the state bar in 2024.