Meet Becca Longo, the first woman to ever get a college football scholarship

| American Football | 04/14/2017

Becca Longo may not be the first woman to play college football but she made college football history this week.

The kicker at Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona, signed a letter of intent to play football at Adams State University, an NCAA Division II school in Alamosa, Colorado.

With that, she became the first female known to sign a football scholarship at the Division I or II level. Longo will also play basketball for the school. There have been females in the past who played college football, but none of them were ever put on scholarship, according to ESPN.

“I contacted them [Adams State] during the season, and after the season, I got contacted back by them,” said Longo via Arizona Republic. “The offensive coordinator (Josh Blankenship), he told me he wanted me to come out for a visit.

“I went on my visit and I absolutely fell in love.”

Longo made 35 of 38 extra points during the 2016 season for Chandler Basha high school, and she made her only field goal attempt of 30 yards. She also said she feels good from 40 yards and in.

“It was like recruiting any other athlete,” Adams State coach Timm Rosenbach told the Arizona Republic. “In Division II, we can see their workouts. To me, there is no doubt she can be competitive. She has a strong leg, and she can be very accurate.”

Longo started playing football competitively her sophomore year. Knowing she wanted to kick in college, Longo sent video highlights to schools, including Adams State. She also began following Adams State head football coach Timm Rosenbach on Twitter, which got his attention.

According to ESPN, about a dozen women are known to have played college football, though none under athletic scholarship. But Rosenbach said he wasn’t thinking about the historical aspect when he offered her a scholarship. It was her accuracy.

According to Rosenbach, the kicking job is up for grabs heading into the season. And Longo sounds ready for that challenge.

“I’m going to go in, I’m going to be ready to compete,” Longo said. “I’m not one to back down to anybody.”

Sources: CNN, Arizona Republic, Saturday Down South.

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