Cleburne’s Chaston Cuffee gets to wear the gold and black for four more years, at least.
The senior signed with the University of Missouri on Wednesday at Cleburne High School. He received a full scholarship offer from the Tigers and will play in Missouri’s first SEC season in the fall.
“I still get to wear the black and gold,” he said. “I’m just excited right now. There’s a lot of adrenaline running through my body. I think it’s a great opportunity to fulfill my dreams to make it to the pros.”
Cuffee played in the secondary the last two years for Cleburne and was also the backup quarterback. He said he was recognized during a workout in the indoor practice facility by a Missouri coach and the rest is history.
“I guess he saw me and got on the phone with his position coach and said, ‘You’ve got to come check this kid out,’ Cuffee said. “Then they came down and offered me a scholarship. I’ll be playing on defense and probably also on special teams for my freshman year.”
Former Cleburne Head Football Coach Phil Young recounted a story when Cuffee, a freshman at the time, approached Young about playing football wearing a helmet which fit his head so loosely, you could swivel it around 360 degrees.
“Obviously, a lot has changed since then,” Young said. “It’s really fun because you get to see a young man who has come a long way and gets to continue his career playing the game he loves.
“So many people had a hand in doing this along with his parents and the coaches. He’s a great young man who has worked so hard and had to outwork a lot of people in a lot of places. It’s just exciting to see a kid grown and know he’s going to play at the next level.”
Instead of Joshua, Burleson, Centennial or whoever Cleburne lines up against next year on the gridiron after Thursday’s realignment, Cuffee will face the likes of Louisiana State University and defending national champion Alabama.
“It’s going to be crazy,” he said with a smile.
Football
Related Photos
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Seated, from left, are Eva Johnson, Chaston Cuffee, and former Cleburne football coach Phil Young. Standing, from left, are Rodney Johnson and coaches Eddie Baca and Curtis James. Cuffee signed to play football with the University of Missouri on National Signing Day at Cleburne High School Zack Cunningham/Times-Review
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Cleburne's Cuffee signs with Missouri
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