By Staff
EAST LANSING – Former Michigan State two-time All-American Brad Van Pelt died of an apparent heart attack on Tuesday, Feb. 17 in Harrison, Mich. He was 57.
Born April 5, 1951, in Owosso, Mich., Van Pelt became a three-year starter for Coach Duffy Daugherty and earned first-team All-America honors as both a junior and senior. As a sophomore in 1970, he had 80 tackles (42 solos, 38 assists) and a career-high six interceptions. As a junior, Van Pelt recorded 92 stops (51-41) and picked off four passes.
He returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Oregon State in 1971, with returns covering 40 and 47 yards. As a senior, the 6-foot-5, 221-pound safety produced 84 tackles (42-42) and four interceptions. In 1972, he became the first defensive back ever to receive the Maxwell Award as the nation's top collegiate player.
Van Pelt finished his collegiate career with 256 tackles and 14 interceptions. He was named to the Lansing State Journal's MSU Centennial Super Squad in 1996 and inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000, College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
A second-round draft pick by the New York Giants in 1973, he spent 14 years in the National Football League and earned All-Pro honors five times (1976-80).
Van Pelt earned seven varsity letters at Michigan State while participating in football (1970-72), baseball (1971-72) and basketball (1971-72).
He played three seasons for the Spartan basketball team under Coach Gus Ganakas, earning two letters in 1971 and '72. A strong defender and rugged front-court player, his most productive season came in 1970-71, when he averaged 4.5 points, while shooting 61.7 percent from the field, and 2.9 rebounds.
A right-handed pitcher for Coach Danny Litwhiler in 1971-72, Van Pelt compiled a 4-3 career record with 94 strikeouts and a 2.10 ERA in 64.1 career innings. In limited time at the plate, he hit .220 with two home runs and eight RBI.
Van Pelt was a member of MSU's 1971 Big Ten championship team that went 36-10 overall and 13-3 in conference play, striking out 10 batters in his eight innings to go along with a 2.25 ERA. As a junior in 1972, he had a breakthrough season, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as he led the Spartans to a second-place finish in the league standings.
Van Pelt struck out a team-high 84 batters, which still stands as 10th-best single-season total in MSU history, threw four complete games including two shutouts, and posted a 2.07 ERA with a 4-3 record.
Van Pelt had four sons: Bradlee, Bret, Brian and Justen (deceased).