By Michael Kinney
The last time Keegan Bass was on a football field in uniform it was a spectator. The wideout closed out his junior season with an injured arm and was forced to watch Mustang’s final game of 2021 from the sideline.
As Bass prepares to make his return to the gridiron for his senior campaign, a lot has changed for him. That includes knowing that his future on the gridiron is secured.
Bass announced on Aug. 1 that he has verbally committed to play football for the Air Force Academy after his time at Mustang is done.
“It was a big relief,” Bass said. “Not having to worry about recruitment, that entire process, that is a big relief. Just going into your senior year, playing football and not worrying about any other extras going on or whatnot.”
Bass had offers from Georgetown and three of the Armed Forces Academies: Army, Navy and the Air Force. All four came in the month of march.
After a trip to Colorado Springs to visit the Air Force Academy with his family in late July, Bass said the Falcons won him over.
“So, it was just a big relief going down there with my family, seeing everything firsthand and then making that decision it was big,” Bass said.
The Falcons are coming off a 10-3 season in which they won their final four games of the year. That includes beating Louisville 31-28 in the First Responder Bowl.
While the Air Force lost 21-14 in overtime to Army, they rolled to a 23-3 win against the Navy.
While Bass, who carries a 4.1 GPA, didn’t make his announcement until Aug. 1, he said he made his decision much earlier in the process.
Bass admits he was apprehensive about even considering any of the academies. But after realizing the regiment to it takes to play for the Broncos had already prepared him.
“Some kids might shy away from them at first. I was definitely one of them,” Bass said. “I was like ‘heck no, there’s no way I could go there.’ But after getting down there and seeing everything and then just learning the demographic and the brotherhood of the military, it doesn’t seem any different than I could handle from football.”
What sold Bass even more than the football was the opportunities that come with being a graduate of the Air Force Academy.
“A big thing for me is just benefits after football,” Bass said. “You have got to have a career. You have got to set foundations for your kids and what you want to live for. Just the benefits that the Air Force brings you with the military. You got to make some sacrifices in military life, but that’s just how life is. You just got to make some sacrifices to get where you want to be in life. So, I think that would get me there.”
Before Bass heads to Colorado Springs to join the Falcons, he still has some unfinished business left with Mustang. After racking up 33 receptions for 672 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior, he wants to close out his prep career with a bang.
“I’m always trying for the best,” Bass said. “I think last year it was a little wake-up call because I was a little on the underrated side. But I think people definitely know about me now. I just want to showcase my skills and just bring benefit to my team as much as I can.”
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