Adam Prentice was no longer anonymous. On third-and-1 from the Raiders’ 32-yard line last Sunday, he burst out of the shadows and into the hearts of Broncos Country. A fullback with an 18-yard run? You are full of (bleep). But there was Prentice striding to the 14-yard line, setting up the Broncos ’ third touchdown. As he stood up, right tackle Mike McGlinchey grabbed his helmet and yelled encouragement and left guard Quinn Meinerz patted him on the chest. Prentice, in case you didn’t know, is one of them. A grunt. Unselfish. And, when he does his job well, forgotten. “That play was old school. My job was to make it go, to secure the ‘A’ gap. And Adam found the hole,” Meinerz said. “I was happy for him, happy he held onto the ball, happy he got the first down. It was designed to go 3 yards, not 18. I don’t think he’s known for his breakaway speed.” Not executing the stiff arm, not finding the end zone, the play was perfect in its blemishes. Fullbacks live in the dirt. Not in highlights as works of art. “His position has the same character as ours. It is a thankless job,” McGlinchey said. “And all Adam has done since he got here is prove his worth and prove he is a great teammate every single day.” Adam Prentice (46) of the Denver Broncos after catching a pass from Bo Nix (10) during the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) For most NFL players, their journey to the league springs from college stardom and draft day parties. For Prentice, everything is different. It is why his story deserves telling, not just because of the local connection, but because of his humility and courage in overcoming the death of his father. Prentice joined the Broncos in mid August, signed after Mike Burton landed on injury reserve. It was a full circle moment for the fullback in multiple ways. He began his pro career as an undrafted free agent for the Broncos in 2021, but was among the final cuts. Over the past five years, he has been part of 23 transactions and had 16 rushing attempts. Prentice landed with the Saints, playing for Sean Payton in his rookie season. He thought he might be done last summer, unsigned at a position only about a third of the teams even use. “Naturally your mind goes there, that this could be it. And the reality is that it could have been. I was still training, staying ready and hoping. I set myself up with schooling, if it did come to that. I had a plan,” Prentice said. “But I had some gas left in the tank. I had the desire to keep playing. It was just about getting the opportunity.” Prentice, who credits Burton for helping him this season, has gradually gained importance. A special teams stalwart — he has seven tackles, quenching the thirst of an old high school linebacker — the 6-foot, 245-pounder became a critical cog in the run game after hybrid tight end Nate Adkins injured his knee against the Cowboys. Of his153 offensive snaps this season, 65 have come in the past three weeks as the Broncos have microwaved the development of rookie R.J. Harvey. Prentice, 28, is giving Denver’s offense toughness that is impossible not to notice. “Nobody wants to do the dirty work. But you can see that (Prentice) gets it,” said former Broncos standout fullback and Super Bowl champion Howard Griffith. “The way his linemen celebrated that run (against the Raiders) tells you he has earned their acceptance and they know his value to the scheme.” Prentice did not have to suppress his ego to become a backfield bodyguard. He grew up wrestling, a sport that requires sacrifice and grit. He finished second in the state at 195 pounds his senior season, helping lead Clovis (Calif.) High School to back-to-back state championships. He walked on at Colorado State, a preferred recruit of coach Mike Bobo as a fullback. “It was a transition for sure.I got put on my butt a few times. But you learn quickly,” said Prentice, who played three seasons for the Rams before spending his final year at South Carolina where Bobo was hired as the offensive coordinator. “It is the offensive complement to playing linebacker, just not tackling.” Prentice overcame the transition to his new position and injuries, while dealing with a family tragedy. His father Gary died on May 12, 2015, from leukemia, a few months before Prentice reported to fall camp in Fort Collins. His dad reveled in the athletic accomplishments of Adam and his younger brother Anthony. Adam honored his father’s wishes to leave home and play in college. “We had gone on my visit together, and when we got back he got sick. And it went downhill fast. But, he wanted me to go,” Prentice said. “It was really hard leaving my mom (Renae). But I knew she had a great support system at home. She wanted me to go, too, and my brother and sister (Aimee) were comfortable knowing that I would have the support of the coaching staff. Sometimes you kind of push things out of your mind and you find things to channel the anger and pain, at least the first couple of years. But it also helped that I went there with my dad and chose to go there when I was with him. So, it was like he was there too.” Adam Prentice (46) of the Denver Broncos celebrates running for a first down with Mike McGlinchey (69) and Quinn Meinerz (77) during the third quarter of the Broncos’ 24-17 win at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) Prentice is resilient. And incredibly intelligent. If ever a fullback understood angles, it is him. Prentice boasts an undergraduate degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in structural engineering. So, yes, his mind wanders at times when construction workers hammer away on the Broncos’ $175-million training facility. “I have to catch myself. I will look over there, and say, “oh yeah, I know why they are doing that.’ I see things from a whole different perspective,” Prentice said. “Sometimes, it it is kind of a pain because I can’t just look at something. But it is pretty cool watching what they are building.” Related Articles Renck: Has it really been 30 years? Avs players reflect on city’s first championship at reunion Renck vs. Keeler: Is Broncos underdog status at home vs. Packers ultimate sign of disrespect? Renck: A Father’s Sonshine. Dakota Ridge climbs final mountain with coach, quarterback leading way to title Renck File: Have Broncos’ opponents hacked their defense? That is a big fat no. Renck: Cherry Creek star Jayden Fox is fast, explosive, and in today’s sports, uncommonly unselfish The same could be said about Prentice and his unlikely career. He had every reason to abandon athletics after high school. He could have left and built bridges and buildings after getting cut by the Broncos four years ago. But that is not Prentice. There is no challenge he will not embrace, no sleeve he won’t roll up. He doesn’t need or want the spotlight. He just loves football. And as he walked back to the locker room Wednesday, nobody noticed. Just like he likes it. “Football is what I grew up playing with my brother and dad at the park in the mud. The childhood aspect of it remains. It is what I have always known,” Prentice said. “I wanted to finish my homework so I could stay up and watch those primetime games. Now to be playing in them is crazy. It’s a dream come true. And I know my dad is watching every Sunday and following along.” ...read more read less