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Originally thinking his football playing career came to an end in October, Coconino’s Cory Rexroat ended up finding himself a new home just two hours south in Surprise.

Signing his national letter of intent to Ottawa University, Arizona on Wednesday, Rexroat will long snap for the Spirit as the school opens in the fall. Admitting the early groundwork was done by Panthers head coach Jeremiah Smith and his mother, Rexroat said he had not heard of the school’s plans to begin a football program while opening the school.

“I had developed a whole plan. I was going to go to Alaska, I was going to fish all summer and make money, come back and go to (Coconino Community College) or whatever,” said Rexroat, before his mom encouraged him to apply to two-year schools in the valley. “She said ‘I don't want you to regret it four years down the road, I don't want you to be like well I could have tried, I could done something.’”

Listed by Coconino at 5-11, 160 pounds while finishing with 22 tackles and a sack on defense, Rexroat realizes his size isn’t conducive to a college football career. Admitting he was undersized while playing for the Panthers the past few years, Rexroat’s first reaction to Ottawa included the same thought process.