University of the Pacific

Brad Vassar was a three-time All-America linebacker for the Tigers football program from 1977 to 1979.

He transferred to Pacific in 1977 after spending his freshman season at UCLA. Vassar helped the Bruins to a 1976 Rose Bowl berth against Ohio State, and used that as momentum heading into his Pacific career. In 1977, Brad helped the Tigers to a second-place finish in the Pacific Coast Athletic Association standings at 6-5.

In 1977 and 1978, he received Honorable Mention All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America. He was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American in 1978 and 1979 by the Associated Press, and earned the same honor from United Press International in 1979.

As a senior, Brad was voted the Tigers' Defensive Player of the Year and earned the Douglas Vieira Award as the team's Most Valuable Player, sharing the honor with Dallas Nelson. Brad was a three-time First Team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association selection. He finished his collegiate career by being selected to participate in the 1979 East-West Shrine All-Star Classic and he was named the Northern California Defensive Player of the Year.

Vassar graduated from Pacific in the spring of 1980 and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1980 National Football League amateur draft by the Atlanta Falcons where he played for two seasons (1980 and 1981).