Jon Volpe
Encyclopedia
Jon Volpe was a star running back in the Canadian Football League
.
Volpe took an unusual and inspiring path to football stardom. Coming from a family where his father would leave by the time he was 5 years old, his mother would become an alcoholic and live on the street, and his brother would go to jail several times, Jon Volpe, being only 5 feet 7 inches tall, succeeded in getting a football scholarship to Stanford University
, where he was an all-conference running back (leading in rushing yards,) earning GTE Academic All-American honors and being named a Rhodes Scholar nominee (while getting a BSc in engineering.)
Not drafted by the NFL, he had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers
before he headed to Canada
to play for the B.C. Lions. He exploded into the league in 1991, and rushing behind Doug Flutie
(who would throw for a record 6619 yards) Volpe added 1395 rushing yards, and 16 touchdowns, which was good for an all star and the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
. In 1992 he added 941 yards and 13 TDs, and was again named an all star. A contract dispute meant a late start to the 1993 season, which ended up being disappointing. He left the Lions after 3 years and 36 games.
Volpe moved to the expansion Las Vegas Posse
in 1994, but again was unsuccessful, rushing only 43 times for 182 yards and 3 TDs. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
in 1995, but a preseason shoulder injury ended his career.
Always driven, Volpe said that he'd be a millionaire by the time he was 30 years old. He succeeded only a few months after his birthday. As a successful mortgage broker, Volpe has risen to become chairman and CEO of Nova Home Loans.
He is married to Heather and has a daughter, Kaylie, and son, Trevor.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Volpe took an unusual and inspiring path to football stardom. Coming from a family where his father would leave by the time he was 5 years old, his mother would become an alcoholic and live on the street, and his brother would go to jail several times, Jon Volpe, being only 5 feet 7 inches tall, succeeded in getting a football scholarship to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he was an all-conference running back (leading in rushing yards,) earning GTE Academic All-American honors and being named a Rhodes Scholar nominee (while getting a BSc in engineering.)
Not drafted by the NFL, he had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
before he headed to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to play for the B.C. Lions. He exploded into the league in 1991, and rushing behind Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
(who would throw for a record 6619 yards) Volpe added 1395 rushing yards, and 16 touchdowns, which was good for an all star and the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award
The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually rewarded to the player deemed to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. This is the fifth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it...
. In 1992 he added 941 yards and 13 TDs, and was again named an all star. A contract dispute meant a late start to the 1993 season, which ended up being disappointing. He left the Lions after 3 years and 36 games.
Volpe moved to the expansion Las Vegas Posse
Las Vegas Posse
The Las Vegas Posse was a Canadian Football League team that played the 1994 season as part of the CFL's short-lived American expansion. The Posse was one of the least successful CFL teams, both on the field and off.-On the field:...
in 1994, but again was unsuccessful, rushing only 43 times for 182 yards and 3 TDs. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in 1995, but a preseason shoulder injury ended his career.
Always driven, Volpe said that he'd be a millionaire by the time he was 30 years old. He succeeded only a few months after his birthday. As a successful mortgage broker, Volpe has risen to become chairman and CEO of Nova Home Loans.
He is married to Heather and has a daughter, Kaylie, and son, Trevor.