The 6-foot, 200-pound senior running back and linebacker rushed for 2,298 yards and 32 touchdowns this past season, leading the Cardinals (10-2) to the Division 5 state tournament quarterfinals. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Small School Offensive Player of the Year, Brunell amassed 83 tackles, including 11 for a loss, along with one sack and a forced fumble. A two-time, two-way First Team All-State selection and the 2023 Elroy Hirsch Award winner as the state’s top senior running back, he concluded his prep football career with a state-record 7,416 rushing yards.
Brunell has maintained a 3.13 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to play football on scholarship at the University of North Dakota this fall.
A school representative for Columbus at the Capital Conference Leadership and Sportsmanship Committee, Brunell has volunteered locally as a youth football and basketball coach. He has also donated his time on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
