Former Brophy Star Making Most of Unlikely Homecoming

It’s 7:08 a.m. and Tyler Bruggman is standing on the opposite end of the still-frosted over field.

He’s joined by a handful of teammates as the rising sun peeks over the Superstition Mountains.

He begins his warm-up throws, embarking on his final bowl week preparations.

Bruggman isn’t tuning up for the Fiesta, Holiday or even Las Vegas Bowl. His first post-season experience is the Valley of the Sun Bowl as the starting quarterback for the Scottsdale Community College Artichokes.

It is a far cry from what he or anyone would have expected after signing with Washington State out of Brophy in 2013. After redshirting with the Cougars, he walked on at Louisville before Bobby Petrino’s crowded stable of quarterbacks eventually brought him back to his home state.

Bruggman’s cross-country, three-school journey is unique but not unheard of in today’s feast-or-famine world of college football.

Through it all, the 6-1, 195-pounder never wavered in his confidence.

“It’s been a long ride but you just have to keep moving forward,” Bruggman told Sports360AZ.com last week. “Don’t live in the past, just make today the best day.”

At SCC, the redshirt sophomore is, in many ways, reliving his past.

“My dad used to work here,” he said. “I was a ball boy and came to practices when I was younger. I’ve always been familiar with Scottsdale Community College.”

Although he never played, he used his experience both on and off the field in Pullman and Louisville to help his latest detour.

“It was a great year,” Bruggman said about his time at Washington State. “I built a lot of friendships that will last the rest of my life. It was a good year to get adjusted to the life of college football.”

He has been well-received by his Artichoke coaches and teammates.

“He’s a great kid,” head coach Doug Madoski said. “He’s a tremendous leader for us. He’s the guy everyone wants to follow. He’s responsible. He handles his business.”

Saturday afternoon against Central Lakes College (MN) Bruggman most certainly handled his on-the-field business one last time throwing for 235 yards and four touchdowns as Scottsdale (7-4) capped their season on a five-game win streak with a dramatic 42-34 win.

College life will take another turn as he will receive his Associate of Arts degree from SCC and pursue his business and football career at another school next month.

History has proven Bruggman will be ready for whatever awaits.

 

 

Next Reads