Mount Gilead graduate Cole Grace will move on to Otterbein University this fall to continue his football and academic careers.
Grace, who will major in business, said that Otterbein’s emphasis on academics played a role in his decision. He also was looking at Muskingum, Ohio Wesleyan and Heidelberg.
“When I visited,” it was a nice school,” he said. “They were worried about getting me ready for the academics instead of just football, which helped me through making the right decision.”
Grace, who earned second-team recognition in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference as a senior, expects to play as a defensive back, although he wasn’t sure if he’d be a cornerback or safety. He added that a positive attitude is one thing he’ll be able to bring to the table.
“I think I bring a positive attitude,” he said. “We haven’t had the best of seasons here, but had a positive attitude and I think that helped.”
Grace doesn’t think he’ll see much action on the field as a freshman, noting that he’ll have to bulk up to make the transition from high school to college football.
“I definitely need to bulk up a little bit,” he said. “But they’ll be able to prepare me to get bigger and be more college-size.”
While at Otterbein, the main thing Grace will miss about Mount Gilead was the bonds he had with his teammates.
“Just being out here with my teammates,” he said. “I wish I could bring them all to Otterbein, but I can’t do that. They showed me what a real team is like. We were really bonded.”
However, he has plenty to look forward to with Otterbein. He noted that simply getting the opportunity to continue playing football at the next level is a thrill.
“Just the fact I’m able to do this,” he said. “Not many get the opportunity, so I should take it.”
