BRUTON AT A GLANCE:
• A fourth-year safety whose 32 special-teams tackles over the last three seasons rank second on the club.
• Appeared in all 16 regular-season games in 2012, tying for sixth on the team with three special-teams stops.
• Played 15 regular-season games (1 start) in 2011, ranking third on the team with eight special-teams tackles, before opening both playoff games at free safety and tying for the club lead with 15 defensive stops.
• Played all 16 games (2 starts) for Denver in 2010, recording 14 tackles (12 solo) and a pass breakup on defense along with a career-high 12 tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams.
• Started during his final two years at the University of Notre Dame, leading the Fighting Irish with 182 tackles and seven interceptions during that stretch.
• Posted 97 tackles (61 solo) as a senior at Notre Dame that marked the third-highest single-season total by a defensive back in school history to earn honorable mention All-America recognition from The NFL Draft Report.
• Established himself as one of the top special-teams gunners in the country while appearing in 596 career special-teams plays at Notre Dame.
• Selected by the Broncos in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.
BRUTON AT A GLANCE:
• A fourth-year safety whose 32 special-teams tackles over the last three seasons rank second on the club.
• Appeared in all 16 regular-season games in 2012, tying for sixth on the team with three special-teams stops.
• Played 15 regular-season games (1 start) in 2011, ranking third on the team with eight special-teams tackles, before opening both playoff games at free safety and tying for the club lead with 15 defensive stops.
• Played all 16 games (2 starts) for Denver in 2010, recording 14 tackles (12 solo) and a pass breakup on defense along with a career-high 12 tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams.
• Started during his final two years at the University of Notre Dame, leading the Fighting Irish with 182 tackles and seven interceptions during that stretch.
• Posted 97 tackles (61 solo) as a senior at Notre Dame that marked the third-highest single-season total by a defensive back in school history to earn honorable mention All-America recognition from The NFL Draft Report.
• Established himself as one of the top special-teams gunners in the country while appearing in 596 career special-teams plays at Notre Dame.
• Selected by the Broncos in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Denver as a draft choice 7/27/09.
Bruton's Single-Game Highs
(Postseason in parentheses)
Tackles — 6, twice, last at Arizona, 12/12/10 (8 vs. Pittsburgh, 1/8/12). Interceptions — 1 at Kansas City, 11/25/12 (none). Interception return yards — -2 at Kansas City, 11/25/12 (none). Passes Defensed — 1, six times, last at Kansas City, 11/25/12 (1 vs. Pittsburgh, 1/8/12).
2012: Bruton played all 16 games for the second time in his career and was named a third alternate to the AFC Pro Bowl squad as a special-teamer... Deflected a Shane Lechler punt in the third quarter that allowed Denver to start its next drive from the Raiders 18-yard line. RB Willis McGahee scored a touchdown four plays later to extend Denver's lead to 24-6 vs. Oak. (9/30)... Made his first special-teams tackle of the season at S.D. (10/15)... Tackled PR Adam Jones for no gain and recovered an onside kick to seal the victory for Denver at Cin. (11/4)... Downed Britton Colquitt's punt at the 10-yard line in the second quarter at Car. (11/11)... Made his first career interception, picking off his former Notre Dame and Broncos teammate Brady Quinn to close Denver's win at K.C. (11/25).
2011: Bruton played 15 games (1 start) in the regular season and totaled 13 solo tackles on defense in addition to eight special-teams stops which ranked third on the club... Opened both of Denver’s playoff games, tying for the team lead with 15 defensive tackles (11 solo) and adding a pass defensed.
2010: Bruton played all 16 games (2 starts) and totaled 14 tackles (12 solo) and one pass defensed on defense... Finished second on the club with 12 special-teams stops and recovered two fumbles on special-teams units... Deflected a punt and recorded a season-high two special-teams stops vs. Stl. (11/28)... Started Games 12-13 in place of injured safety Brian Dawkins.
2009: Selected by the Broncos in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft, Bruton appeared in 14 games (1 start) for the club as a rookie and posted five tackles (4 solo) along with one pass breakup... Tied for fourth on the Broncos with nine special-teams tackles... Notched two special-teams stops at S.D. (10/19), at Bal. (11/1) and vs. NYG (11/26)... Made his first career start vs. Oak. (12/20), replacing Renaldo Hill, and finished the game with five tackles (4 solo) and one pass breakup.
COLLEGE: Bruton totaled 214 tackles (138 solo), one sack (10 yds.), seven interceptions (77 yds.), 16 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 48 games (24 starts) at the University of Notre Dame... Saw extensive action on special teams, appearing in 596 career special-teams plays during his time at Notre Dame... Started all 13 games as a senior team captain and totaled 97 tackles (61 solo), four interceptions (57 yds.), 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to earn honorable mention All-America honors from The NFL Draft Report... Led Notre Dame with four interceptions and ranked second on the team with 97 tackles that marked the third-best single-season total by a defensive back in school annals... Played 12 games (11 starts) as a junior for Notre Dame and led the team with three interceptions.
PERSONAL: Bruton attended Miamisburg High School in Miamisburg, Ohio, where he totaled 112 tackles, 11 interceptions and 470 receiving yards during his final two seasons... Earned All-Division I-II and All-Area honors from the Dayton Daily News as well as all-district accolades as a senior after posting 54 tackles and three interceptions... Received all-conference honors and was a special mention All-Southwest Ohio selection as a junior, posting 58 tackles and eight interceptions that year... Had 200 receiving yards as a senior and 270 receiving yards as a junior... Majored in both political science and sociology at Notre Dame... Worked as a substitute teacher in his hometown of Miamisburg during the 2011 offseason... David Lee Bruton was born on July 23, 1987, in Winchester, Ky.
