Boardman native Steve Vallos went from a stellar career in high school as a lineman for the Boardman Spartans football team as well as a highly-touted wrestler to Wake Forest University where he started every game (48) for all four years as a member of the Demon Deacons offensive line.
In 2006, Vallos led Wake Forest to the Atlantic Coast Conference title and a berth in the Orange Bowl while gaining first team All-ACC and All-American honors.
He was drafted in the seventh round in 2007 by the Seattle Seahawks and began a six-year odyssey in the National Football League that also landed him with four other teams.
In the pre-season, the Broncos had a need for a back-up center, and Vallos won a spot on the team.
Now he’s going to a Super Bowl a reserve offensive lineman and special teams performer who has been active for all but one of Denver’s 18 games this season.
“I know that lots of Boardman Pride will be out there with him on Super Bowl Sunday,” his mom, Sue, said this week before departing for the big game.
Only one, other former Spartan gridder has reached the Super Bowl, and that was Bernie Kosar, in his role as a back-up quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys at Super Bowl XXVIII.
This pre-season, Broncos starting center Dan Koppen went down with a torn ACL, and Denver quickly realized that they needed a center with experience.
That’s why they agreed to terms with Vallos.
The six-year veteran has played in 44 regular season NFL games (9 starts). He was drafted by the Seahawks in 2007 and played three seasons there, with his first season being on the practice squad. He went on to play for the Browns for two years and followed that up by playing for the Eagles and the Jaguars in 2012.
The 6-3, 310-pound center has allowed only 1.25 sacks in his career and has been called for just two penalties.
Should the Broncos win this year’s Super Bowl there will be a nice bonus each member of the winning team will receive, some $88,000. Members of the losing team each receive about $44,000.
