A Long Snapper’s Dream

A Long Snapper’s Dream by. @JustinAaronUH91

On a warm afternoon in Lake Charles, Louisiana I made my way around Cowboy Stadium. I specifically was targeting Special Teams to monitor closely. My focus was to find a player who could meet many of my expectations. When I look for a player, I look for more than the pure athlete himself. From the moment I step on the field, I am constantly evaluating players as such. When I made my way through, #91 of the Braves of Alcorn State University.

Many may know that Alcorn State is the University where the late Steve McNair played. So with that being said, it did not surprise me that the Braves had such talent. Colten Menges is his name. Colten’s journey to Alcorn State is unique. Colten went the JUCO route, as I did. While at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas Colten was a physical Tight End with the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers compete in Region XIV in the Southwestern Junior College Football Conference.

The Buccaneers are always competitive and are most known for Quarterback Cam Newton who transferred and played for them. Menges is no stranger to working hard and contributing to the team by any way possible. Colten is like a Swiss Army knife, a very big athlete with more than just snapping under his belt. From my own eyes, he snaps a very good ball.

He also contributes on kick-off and punt team as he’s made numerous Special Teams tackles. In a key conference game against Prairie View A&M, Colten hustled down the field and created a forced fumble that was recovered by Alcorn. The Braves then took the ball and marched it down the field and scored. Each week he continues to get better. Next week is Homecoming for the Braves as they host Savannah State. Kick-off is set for 2:00 p.m. from Jack Spinks Football Stadium in Lorman, Mississippi.

Awards:

• State Wrestling Champion in Kansas (folkstyle), Alaska (folkstyle, greco, freestyle)
• 4x All-American – Wrestling
• 4x Nationl Placewinner – Wrestling
• 1x European Champion – Wrestling
• 2x All European – Football
• 2x All Star – Football

So I asked Colten to answer the following questions, so his story could be shared.

What is your take on going from Blinn to Alcorn State?

Coming from Blinn, a powerhouse of a Junior College, to a school like Alcorn State has been a blessing. I have worked very hard to be in the position that I am today. With my father being in the military I was playing High School football overseas in England where getting recruited for college football is very hard especially to go straight to Division 1. Because of my circumstances, I went to a division 3 school and it wasn’t for me. I went to Blinn College afterwards and was very fortunate to be taken into a program that Blinn has and leave with a full ride scholarship to Alcorn State. I am in love with the winning tradition, the coaching staff, and the players here. Everything that I have worked for is coming into place. I could not have committed to a better school.

What are your goals when your college career is over?

My goal after college football is play in the National Football League. It has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I am fortunate enough to have a long snapping coach, Kyle Stelter, who owns Special Teams U, to take my snapping to the next level. I have been doing lessons with him for around a year now and the transformation is incredible. He has made me a better person, and a better long snapper. If it does not work out like I plan to, I will get a managing degree and try to join the company that my father works in.

Why do you play?

I play because I am born for competition. I have been competing since I was 4 years old starting with wrestling. I grew up going to National tournaments and placing in them for every style of wresting. I ended my high school year winning Europeans overseas in Germany to end my wrestling career. Competition is in my blood and I will compete until my body cannot anymore. I want to compete with the best in the world and prove that I am good enough to be apart of it. I will never stop pushing for success, football or not, to be the best at what I do.