Rutgers University Athletics

Van Ness was the ECAC Football Sophomore of the Year in 1967 and played sensationally at five different positions for the Scarlet Knights. He accounted for 2,216 all-purpose yards during his collegiate career, which was capped by his selection as the most valuable player in the 1969 North-South All-Star game. Van Ness was named Rookie of the Year in the Canadian Football League in 1970 and enjoyed an outstanding career with the Montreal Alouettes