Baylor School's Gage Upshaw has committed to play football for the Air Force Academy, thus becoming the third Red Raider to accept offers from NCAA Division I programs.
Upshaw, who made a weekend visit to Colorado Springs, received a scholarship offer Sunday night and immediately accepted. He's expected to play tight end.
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Baylor tight end/linebacker Gage Upshaw, left, gestures during a 2014 practice. Upshaw has committed to play football for the Air Force Academy, becoming the third Red Raider to accept an offer to play at a Division I school."It's a tremendous opportunity," coach Phil Massey said.
Earlier this season, Baylor defensive back Ulysses Strawter committed to Wofford and linebacker Ryan Parker announced his intention to accept academic scholarship and walk-on offers from Notre Dame.
A three-year offensive starter for the Red Raiders, the 6-foot-2 1/2, 232-pound Upshaw also is playing linebacker this year.
"He's made some sacrifices," said Massey, who'll take his team to Memphis University School on Friday in the first 2015 playoff game for both.
Upshaw was elected by his teammates as one of Baylor's three captains.
"We asked him to do something to make our team better, and he's been a team player this entire season. He did it without complaining," said Massey, who not only asked Upshaw to move to tight end from a slot or outside receiver position but also asked him to step into Baylor's defense as an outside linebacker.
As a tight end whose primary responsibility is blocking, Upshaw still has eight catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. He has 30 tackles and a forced fumble.
"We've asked a lot of him this year, and he has been a good player for us," Massey said. "He has risen to our level of expectation and has been a key to the success we've had."
Baylor is currently 8-2 with its losses coming to top-ranked Brentwood Academy and No. 2 Montgomery Bell Academy.
Tennessee State also had offered Upshaw a scholarship and he also was being recruited by Toledo, Ball State, Montana and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He made up his mind to accept an Air Force offer if it was extended during his weekend visit.
"They fed us a lot," he said with a laugh. "Actually the team has a great brotherhood. I got a glimpse of that this weekend when they played Army."
It probably didn't hurt that the Falcons' tight end had four catches, two of which went for touchdowns.
"I'm happy with the offer," said Upshaw, who is considering a business management degree.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.