Former Plant High School, Syracuse QB, Son Of Former Bucs Player Dies

TAMPA, FL — Rex Culpepper, a former Plant High School and Syracuse University quarterback, and son of an ex Tampa Bay Buccaneers player, died from injuries he suffered in a dirt bike accident on Saturday in Georgia, according to multiple reports. He was 28.

“No one expects to meet the love of your life and lose them in only [six] short years after meeting,” his fiancée, Savanna Morgan, wrote in a tribute to him posted Monday to Instagram. “Rex didn't always believe in soulmates but towards the end he told me that he didn't realize what having a soulmate felt like until we felt like extensions of each other. And one thing about us is that we lived every single day like it was our last. We did every little thing that we set our minds to, between learning new skills and hobbies, and traveling to new places, there was never any free time with us and not a moment spent apart. I don't regret a single day in our [six] years.” (Read her full tribute below.)

The couple only recently got engaged, posting photos from their engagement on Instagram at the end of February.

Rex was the son of former NFL defensive tackle Brad Culpepper, who, in addition to the Buccaneers, played for the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, and Monica Culpepper.

Both of his parents were also contestants on the reality competition “Survivor,” according to People. Brad appeared on “Survivor: Blood vs. Water” and was a runner-up on “Survivor: Game Changers,” while Monica competed on “Survivor: One World” and “Survivor: Blood vs. Water.”

While at Plant, Rex ranked among the top 10 high school quarterbacks in Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times. During his high school career, he passed for more than 2,100 yards and 21 touchdowns.

He went on to play for Syracuse from 2016 through 2020. Though he mostly served as a backup quarterback for the university, he started numerous games and appeared in 30 over five seasons, the college said in a news release. He also briefly played tight end.

During Rex’s senior year, he appeared in 10 games — starting in five — and completed 94 of 190 passes for 1,028 yards and nine touchdowns, reports said.

Throughout his college career, he threw 1,546 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, the university said.

Rex also overcame testicular cancer during his time at Syracuse. He was diagnosed with the disease in March 2018, The Athletic reported. Though the cancer spread to his lymph nodes, he was declared cancer-free in June 2018 after extensive chemotherapy and returned to the field.

He even made an appearance in between his first rounds of chemo during the university’s spring game in 2018, Syracuse said.

“[Rex] threw a touchdown pass on the final drive of the exhibition, a moment that he labeled ‘surreal’ and that was emotional for both he and his teammates,” the university said.

In a tribute to Rex posted to X, Syracuse Football wrote, “Our Orange family mourns the loss of Rex Culpepper, who passed away this weekend at the age of 28. Rex lived his life with endless passion, having overcome cancer at the age of 20 while playing for the Orange. Appearing in 30 games, Rex played football as fierce as he lived life. Our hearts are with the Culpepper family [and] all those who loved him.”

Read his fiancée’s full tribute to Rex below: