The 2017 college football season kicks into high gear this weekend with teams all over the country playing. Among the thousands of players will be a record six on rosters who are openly gay.
It was just a month ago that I wrote about there being a record five, but now the list is being updated after Butler’s Xavier Colvin came out on Monday.
The six players are:
- Scott Frantz, a Kansas State offensive lineman (FBS), who will be a sophomore.
- My-King Johnson, an Arizona defensive lineman (FBS), who is likely to redshirt as a freshman to gain more bulk. Being a redshirt means that Johnson can practice with the team and suit up but is not allowed to play. This allows him to retain four years of athletic eligibility.
- Xavier Colvin, a linebacker for Butler University (NCAA Division I FCS), who will be a sophomore.
- Kyle Kurdziolek, a University of St. Francis (Ill., NAIA) linebacker, who will be a junior this fall.
- Darrion McAlister, a center for Marian (Ind., NAIA) University, who will be a senior.
- Wyatt Pertuset, a Capital University (Ohio, Division III), wide receiver who will be a sophomore. Pertuset is injured and his status for the season is uncertain.
Johnson had the pitch-perfect response when asked by the Pac-12 Networks' Ashley Adamson that “people see you as a pioneer, how do you see yourself?"
“As a kid who plays football,” Johnson said. He has been out for many years and noted that “being open is not new for me, it's just new for everybody else.”
