September 24, 2021 – Surprise, AZ –
Quarterback Austin McCullough has thrown for 8,777 yards during his collegiate career at Ottawa University in Arizona. He is a graduate student-athlete and has improved every season as a starter. McCullough threw for 3,054 yards and passed for 35 touchdowns as a freshman and posted a career best 3, 363 passing yards as a sophomore. During the spring of 2021 in condensed playing time, he passed for 1,614 yards and threw 11 touchdowns. McCullough and Ottawa Spirit earned the 23rd spot in the pre-season top 25 NAIA coaches poll.
McCullough’s game continues to improve this season as he contributes to an undefeated football team. In the 2021 season opener against Lyon, McCullough threw a career high 5 touchdowns and lead Ottawa to 76-10 win and the following week he threw 4 touchdowns in a 42-28 win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University. McCullough has helped Ottawa improve as a football during his collegiate career. The Spirit football program went 7-4 in 2018, 9-2 in 2019, and 4-1 in spring 2021. Every year being at Ottawa, he has lead as starting QB. McCullough and the Spirit football program made it to the NCAA Victory Bowl in 2018 and lost to Olivet Nazarene 38-35. This game can used as a learning experience for McCullough and his team. The football teams knows what it takes to get to the championship game. If McCullough continues to improve and light up the scoreboard Ottawa University will have another successful season and may even be playing for another national championship. If the Spirit don’t make it to the NAIA championship game, they still have a chance to compete at the Victory Bowl.
McCullough is an intelligent player who exhibits all the tools a quarterback needs to play winning football. He has adequate size standing at 6’2 and 200 pounds. He makes good decisions with the ball and has thrown 89 touchdowns to only 28 interceptions. He also has the ability to connect with multiple receivers and help his offense score points, distributing the ball to different receivers 3 of whom had over 90 yards in the season opener.
Austin McCullough is a great football player with a promising future ahead of him. McCullough will be overlooked due to not playing for a power 5 or an FCS school. However, he does have the potential to play Semi-Pro football or even the Canadian Football League once his career is over at Ottawa University. His statistics over his career at Ottawa are compatible with college QB’s from FCS schools who have received looks from the NFL. With more development at the semi-professional level, he could take his talents to the NFL if granted the opportunity.
