Becca Longo Makes College Football History

An 18-year-old from Arizona made history Wednesday—without even realizing it, ESPN reports. Becca Longo signed a letter of intent to play football for Colorado's Adams State next season, making her the first woman to get a scholarship to play college football at the Division II level or higher. "I'm still in shock from it," Longo says. "I'm just amazed." According to SB Nation, the dozen or so women who have played college football in the past have been walk-ons. Longo's history-making signing day happened 20 years after the first woman-scored point in college football history.

Longo, a kicker, started playing football as a freshman in high school. In her senior year, she was 35 of 38 on extra points and made her only field-goal attempt (the team didn't attempt many field goals, having one of the top QBs in the country). She says she's comfortable kicking from up to 45 yards. Adams State coach Timm Rosenbach tells the Arizona Republic he doesn't care about Longo making history, he just sees "a football player who earned it." He says "she has a strong leg and she can be very accurate." Longo, who will also be playing basketball at Adams State, will be competing with at least two other kickers for playing time next year, and she says she's ready for the challenge. (More college football stories.)