Getting to know…Bo Putrah

This week I’m going to start catching up with some of the St. Cloud State football players who haven’t been in the spotlight in the past, but will be this season.

I’m starting with sophomore defensive end Bo Putrah today. Putrah is a 6-foot-2, 244-pounder from Faribault. He started to earn playing time at the end of last season when Ross Kees went down with a season-ending injury.

Here’s a Q and A with Bo, aka “Crossbow.”

Q: Why do they call you “Crossbow?”

A: I’m not sure. It’s just the nickname my teammates gave me.

Q: How good can the defensive line be this year?

A: We should be great. We have Jared Cross and Chris Rupe back up front and Jeff Bias out at the other end. Jeff’s a big kid in the pass rush to handle. We’re young, but we’re excited and deep. We have a lot of guys we can count on when the starters go out, too.

Q: It looks like you’ve added some weight. How much are we talking about?

A: I gained 20 pounds in the offseason. I ran a lot to keep my speed up. I did anything I could to get better. I came into school at 215 and last year ended up at 225. Now I’m 244. Staying there is my goal for now. It’s really hot out here so I’m trying to keep my weight up. It’s easy to lose weight in the heat.

Q: How hard is the STUD defensive end spot to learn, especially since you have to drop back into coverage at times?

A: I came in here as a Zombie linebacker and got switched to STUD during spring ball my freshman year. I’ve messed up enough times now to know what I’m doing. It’s all about repetition. There are a lot of blitzes you have to know, but once you get it down it’s a fun position.

Q: What are your goals for this season?

A: I’m trying to get a lot of sacks and make sure I’m a big threat in the pass rush. I think my speed is the biggest thing for me. I just want to get a good get-off each time and get to the QB.

Q: How much did last year’s playing time help you for this season?

A: I played a lot after Kees went down. It helped me a lot. I learned what the game speed was like transitioning from high school to college. I think I can help this team a lot this year. I’m glad I’m finally getting this opportunity. I just want to keep the momentum going.

Q: What was it like growing up Faribault?

A: It was fun. In high school ball I played outside linebacker and running back. But playing college ball is way better than high school. I love how fast it is.

Bo Putrah