When Caleb Strauss visited the Southeast Missouri State campus during the summer of 2015 for a Warrenton football team camp, he was hooked. Two years later, Strauss is a Redhawk. “I fell in love …
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When Caleb Strauss visited the Southeast Missouri State campus during the summer of 2015 for a Warrenton football team camp, he was hooked.
Two years later, Strauss is a Redhawk.
“I fell in love with SEMO when we went down there,” Strauss said. “Last year I thought they were going to recruit me as a defensive end, but they told me this year they wanted me at tight end, so I was excited.”
Despite playing wide receiver the last two seasons and catching just 13 passes last year, Strauss’ size attracted college coaches.
And at 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds, it was easy to see why.
Strauss attended a SEMO prospects camp in July and worked with Redhawk coaches at tight end.
He toured the campus with tight ends coach Joe Uhls, and committed a few weeks later.
“I looked into their math department and I fell in love with them a lot more,” Strauss said. “I feel like it can really be home for me. I was with Coach Uhls all day and he gave me the tour himself. And he was a math major like I want to be, so he gave me a good idea of the school.”
With the commitment out of the way, Strauss said he can spend more time on important things this fall.
“I feel like I can just go out and have fun now,” he said. “I’m always having fun when I play football, but now that college recruiting is out of the way I only have to focus on my team.”
Strauss will start at tight end and defensive end for Warrenton this season.
He finished with 39 tackles last year and was second on the team with five sacks.
It’s on offense, however, where coaches think he can make the biggest impact.
“He’s the type of kid that can take over a game with his size,” Warrenton Head Coach Steve McDowell said. “His physical strength has really come along. He’s gotten after it in the weight room and dedicated himself. The extra attention he got from colleges has really sold him on football and going that direction.”
At SEMO, Strauss expects to be more of a traditional tight end where blocking is the first priority.
But the change in philosophy didn’t change his outlook.
“Their tight ends get down in the dirt and get dirty,” he said. “And I like hitting, so I knew it was the place for me.”
. Bill Barrett photo.
