May leaves track, Minnesota to play football for Bobcats

The urge to play football won out in the end.

Luke May, who was on a track scholarship at the University of Minnesota, is headed back to Montana. May will walk-on with the Montana State University football team this fall with hopes of being the Bobcats starting quarterback one day.

“I missed the sport too much,” May said of his desire to don pads and a helmet again.

“I felt like my best opportunity to continue playing was at Montana State.”

May reports to Bobcat camp on Aug. 2.

“It didn’t turn out like I wanted it to,” May said of his stay with the Gophers.

“It was a good year though of having that experience and learning.”

May said he informed Minnesota officials late last month that he would not be back for his sophomore season.

“I thanked them for everything they did for me,” he said.

He then emailed the school’s compliance office regarding his transfer request.

“It was a tough decision to say goodbye to football (after high school),” May said.

“I think it was tough my first year (at Minnesota). I decided if I ever had a chance to play football after my first year, I would do it. That’s how I ended up here.

“I’m very excited, very thankful I can continue to play and do whatever I can to help the team,” he added.

“There are four or five (quarterbacks), so I’ll be going against those guys, trying to earn a spot on the team.”

MSU wanted May to play quarterback while the University of Montana, which May also considered, wanted him on the defensive side of the ball.

He made recruiting trips to both colleges his senior year in high school.

May, a four-year starter in football, was a two-time Class A all-state quarterback and defensive back for Whitefish. May and the Bulldogs were state champs his senior season, posting a 12-1 record.

He also enjoyed a stellar career in track, winning three Class A state championships in the javelin. He holds the school record in that event.

At Minnesota, May placed third in the javelin at the Stanford meet this spring, fourth at the UCLA meet and won a meet in the Twin Cities.

May’s parents — Eric and Amy — are both Montana graduates.

His grandfather Bucky, however, played football at MSU in the early 1950s.

“I’m happy it’s over,” Eric May said.

“It was weighing on him what to do. He had a lot of weight on his shoulders. Now he can move forward, go to a good school and continue doing what he does.

“I’m grateful to both schools this late in the game,” he continued.

“They go to camp in four weeks. It was nice both schools gave him the chance to walk on.”