Jeff Van Raaphorst
Jeffrey Richard Van Raaphorst is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons on the National Football League. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Van Raaphorst attended Grossmont High School in El Cajon, California, where he played defensive end and tight end before he was converted to a quarterback by his head coach. As a senior, he threw for 2,970 yards. Van Raaphorst committed to playing college football at Arizona State University over Miami and Florida. He led the Sun Devils to the Pac-10 championship in his senior year, where they won the 1987 Rose Bowl. He was the Rose Bowl Player of the Game after passing for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
After going unselected in the 1987 NFL draft, Van Raaphorst signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent because "they have a third quarterback". However, he was waived by the team during final cuts in September. Later that month, Van Raaphorst signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a replacement player during the 1987 NFL strike. He played two games for Atlanta in the 1987 season.
Van Raaphorst was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2006. He now serves as a color commentator for Arizona State football radio broadcasts.