Robbinsville senior makes post-high school plans
Robbinsville – Outside of his immediate family, Cuttler Adams did an excellent job keeping his college football plans hush-hush.
Really, the decision was made months ago. Adams still weighed his options until just three weeks ago, when he informed his family that Yale University in New Haven, Conn., would be receiving his gridiron talents.
The rest of the world found out inside a packed Robbinsville High School auditorium on Feb. 7. In an announcement exclusively live-streamed by The Graham Star, Adams thanked the audience, his coaches and teammates for all the help and support throughout his playing career.
A 2-minute video then aired, showing his commitment to work ethic as his father, Coy, explained Cuttler knew he wanted to take the next step in seventh grade – so the two would get up at 4:30 a.m. to give Cuttler an opportunity to lift weights.
Cuttler then made a phone call.
“There’s a lot of people here wanting to know the decision,” Adams told his new coach. “Where are we going, coach?”
“I think you’re going to come play for Yale University,” head coach Tony Reno affirmed.
Understandably, the room erupted in applause. He is the first running back Yale University has offered a scholarship in two years.
Opportunities at Ivy League schools do not come along every day, but three expressed interest in Adams’ services. Along with Yale, Columbia University and Dartmouth College, Adams also considered in-state Catawba and Greensboro colleges, as well as Gardner-Webb, Lenoir-Rhyne and Mars Hill universities.
Other out-of-state options were Maryville (Tenn.) College; Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) University; and, most recently, Army.
But it was the offer from the Bulldogs – yes, the irony that Cuttler is going from a Black Knight to a Bulldog is not lost on him – that kept lingering in the front of Cuttler’s mind.
“It’s an amazing story, but I got discouraged. Not a lot of people know that,” Cuttler said. “Early on, I just wasn’t getting a lot of looks, but I prayed for a long time and trusted in God.
“After the Yale offer, I couldn’t get the school off my mind. Coach Reno is something special. The culture, the players – that’s just where God wanted me. The biggest reason is that they stuck with me from day one. They were like family to me, and that meant a lot.”
Early indications are that Cuttler will not only stay in the backfield, but could possibly hold onto the No. 4 that he has worn through his years at Robbinsville.
The Atoah native was a member of three Black Knight teams that made the 1A Western Regional finals. Cuttler also exits Robbinsville as the all-time school, Smoky Mountain Conference and western North Carolina rushing leader, accumulating 6,844 over the course of his career (14th all-time in the state).
He was also recruited to play in the 87th Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, as well as the Blue/Grey All-American Game.
While at Yale, Cuttler plans to pursue a degree in kinesiology and begin a career in physical therapy.
“I haven’t told a lot of people what my future plans are, but I’ve definitely got some hopes and dreams,” Cuttler said. “I’ll definitely give back to the community.”