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BOCA RATON – Deltona defensive end Marlon Bradley likes the FAU athletic department so much he’s planning to play two sports for the Owls.
Bradley committed to play football for FAU a couple weeks ago – a decision he intends to make public on Friday – in large part because of assurances he would have the opportunity to try to play basketball the Owls, too.
FAU offered Bradley a football scholarship despite his relative inexperience playing the sport. A basketball player most of his life, Bradley played only hoops for his first three high school years before giving football a shot as a senior.
“I just the thought that I could do more in my life,” Bradley said. “If I played basketball I’d be a one sport athlete. I wanted to try it out and see how it goes. It went pretty well.”
Well indeed.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder recorded 17 sacks, 88 tackles and deflected two passes that resulted in interceptions during his lone season. He also caught two touchdown passes as a tight end.
Rushing the passer is Bradley’s calling card.
“That came pretty easy for him.” Deltona coach BJ Johnson said. “His first two steps are amazing.”
Bradley will enter FAU a far more accomplished pass rusher than run stuffer, but he isn’t exactly a slouch against the run.
His run-stopping skills developed rapidly once the season began.
“Once we got about four games in, they ran way from him,” Johnson said.
Both coach and player believe that Bradley’s football skill will improve rapidly at FAU.
“They’re going to develop me in a way that I can be more explosive,” Bradley said.
For Bradley, the final decision came where to commit down to FAU and Central Michigan. He said a member of Lane Kiffin’s assistants checked with basketball coach Dusty May’s staff to ensure there would be a chance to play in The Burrow.
Should Bradley make the basketball team, it won’t be simply be because May is doing the football program a favor. Bradley earned several basketball scholarship offers from lower-level Division I schools – most notably Stetson – along with some Division II programs.
The basketball offers he expected. A football scholarship he did not.
“I’m surprised how colleges actually took the time to look at me,” Bradley said.
Bradley is one of nine players currently committed to FAU. He’ll make the commitment official when he signs a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, National Signing Day.
FAU signed 10 other players during the early signing period.
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