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Murray Journal

Cottonwood football announces its first college football commitment in several years

Apr 03, 2022 05:11PM ● By Brian Shaw

Cottonwood senior linebacker Curtis Straup at the Blue-Grey All-American Game in Dallas, Texas. (Photo/Blue-Grey All-American Game)

By Brian Shaw | [email protected]

Recognition has been a long time coming for the Cottonwood Colts football team. But after a dry spell in which no football player at Cottonwood has been offered an athletic scholarship for several years, a student-athlete has received one.

Senior Curtis Straup is the first player from Cottonwood High to accept an offer to play college football during the Casey Miller era. Straup will be playing his college football at the College of Wooster, a NCAA Division III school in Ohio.

“Thank you to coach Colaprete and coach Kooser for[LL1]  this opportunity to further my academic and athletic career,” said Straup in part when announcing his decision on Feb. 16. “Thank you Mom and Dad and to all my friends and family for all you have done for me.”

Straup, who is 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, was a starter at the outside linebacker position for the Colts in 2021. He had 15 tackles and had the third most interceptions on the team with two. Straup was also the Colts’ backup quarterback completing nine of 16 passes for 141 yards and threw one touchdown pass. He also ran for 20 yards on four carries for Cottonwood and caught a pass for 14 yards and one touchdown.

“Curtis is a great kid. Smart, hard-working, and does all the right things. I am not sure what major he's chosen, but he will do well at whatever he chooses,” said Cottonwood coach Casey Miller. “All of his hard work has earned him this opportunity.”

During the season, Straup was also invited to appear at the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. On Jan. 10, the Cottonwood senior played linebacker on the West team coached by NFL veteran quarterback Seneca Wallace.

Before accepting the offer from the College of Wooster, Straup also received athletic scholarship offers from the Rose-Holman Institute of Technology, Culver-Stockton College, Nebraska Wesleyan, University of Puget Sound, Dean College, Knox University, Avila University and Hamline University.