Princeton fans fondly remember Culbreath’s 145-yard, two-touchdown effort that propelled the Tigers to an emotional 34-31 victory over Cornell last season. His standout performance also earned him a spot on “SportsCenter’s” “Top Plays” as well as Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors. He finished his sophomore season averaging a team-best 5.9 yards per carry.
Culbreath remembers the win over Cornell not only for his individual effort but also for how it helped the Tigers’ mentality as a whole.
“It was a big win for our team,” Culbreath said. “We needed it after losing two consecutive league games. I felt good that I was able to make something of the opportunities I was given in the game.”
Since the victory over the Big Red, Culbreath has seen much more playing time. This season, Culbreath leads the team in rushing with 261 yards and four touchdowns. The second-leading rusher on the team is senior quarterback and tri-captain Brian Anderson, who has accumulated 79 yards on the ground.
In the Orange and Black’s last-second 10-7 victory over Lehigh on Sept. 27, Culbreath was responsible for his team’s only visit to the endzone on a first-and-goal opportunity from the one-yard line. Last weekend, when Princeton edged Columbia, 27-24, Culbreath led the Tigers with 61 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Culbreath sees his expanded role on the offense as an opportunity to build on last year’s efforts.
“I think that one thing our team lacked last year was consistency in our offense, especially in our running game,” Culbreath said. “I hope with the help of a talented offensive line and the leadership of Brian Anderson, I can provide some of that consistency for us.”
Head coach Roger Hughes appreciates Culbreath’s talent, and he isn’t surprised the junior is stepping up.
“We obviously can’t give him the ball 50 times a game, although he would love that,” Hughes said. “He’s a true warrior.”
This warrior mentality has served Culbreath well throughout his athletic career. At Marshall High School in Falls Church, Va., Culbreath was a triple-threat as a highly successful football, basketball and baseball player.
Culbreath said his basketball and baseball days helped him grow into a leader on the football field. As co-captain of the basketball team, he carried his team all the way to the state semifinals during his senior year. He was also co-captain and first baseman of his school’s baseball team.
Since coming to Princeton, Culbreath certainly has earned his spot as the starting running back. With the season-ending injuries to senior tailback R.C. Lagomarsino and freshman fullback Jonathan Meyers, the spotlight falls squarely on Culbreath.
Hughes is confident based on Culbreath’s outstanding character and work ethic that his starting running back can get the job done. Culbreath has learned the entire offensive system so that he can help coach the offense along with Anderson, Hughes explained.
Off the football field, Culbreath is also a dedicated student with an impeccable work ethic, as evidenced by his spring semester, when the mechanical and aerospace engineering major took six classes in addition to his rigorous spring football schedule.
Culbreath’s most impressive attribute is perhaps his determination to do better every time he steps onto the football field. Hughes definitely values this tenacity in his starting running back.
“Jordan uses mistakes to motivate him to try harder,” Hughes said. “He’s a perfectionist but not in a way that gets him down.”
Culbreath is a motivated athlete with an uncanny drive, and this defining trait has led to big results on the gridiron over the past two seasons. An example of Culbreath’s insatiable desire to perform better is his own personal reaction to his performance against Cornell last season.
“The efforts I put in were starting to pay off, but I wasn’t satisfied,” Culbreath said. “You should never be satisfied.”
It is this attitude that may carry Culbreath and the Tigers to great heights this season.
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