Colony lineman earns opportunity to play college football

Jack Goss didn’t play youth football. But after hitting the Colony turf in high school, Goss became a big piece in the Knights run to program history.

Goss, a senior lineman and key piece of the Knights squad that captured the program’s first state title in 2022, signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Waldorf University in Forrest City, Iowa, and will play football for the NAIA Warriors.

“He’s developed into one of the most inspirational players I’ve ever had,” former Colony head coach Robbie Nash told the crowd during a ceremony in the Colony High library.

Nash, who retired during the offseason, coached Goss not only throughout his high school career, but also in youth wrestling.

“Some kids, they’re natural born leaders. Sometimes those leaders don’t have a lot of athletic ability. He had both. He’s one of the anchors on the team that won a state championship.”

Goss said he didn’t seriously consider playing at the next level until his senior year.

“It kind of came to me,” he said/ “All of my friends were going into it. It looks fun and I really like playing football, so I’m excited for it.”

Goss, an offensive guard in high school, is expected to stay in the interior of the front line at the college level. But he said as an upperclassmen, Goss said there’s a chance he can be moved to a tackle spot. He said there’s also an opportunity to play early in his college career.

“It depends on how hard I work. I’m super excited. They had a true freshman start last year,” Goss said. “It’s an opportunity if I put the work in. I’m excited for it.”

Goss said Valley City State and Mayville State, a pair of schools in North Dakota, were also possibilities. Goss visited all three schools.

“I really enjoyed the environment at all three, but Waldorf really felt like home,” he said. “They really stayed with me, stayed in contact. They really felt like a family.”

Goss was named first-team all-conference at guard and second-team all-state as a senior.

He was also a standout on the Colony High wrestling team. Goss earned a Northern Lights Conference title at 285 pounds as a junior and senior.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.