Gretna East students are used to making history, and senior Connor Sams is no exception. Sams, a player for the Gretna East football team since its inception and a captain who led the team to its first state championship game, is now the first to play Division I football.

“It’s not even a question that this is definitely my biggest accomplishment in life,” Sams said. “I think my next biggest accomplishment is to graduate from the Air Force Academy.”

Sams signed with the Air Force Academy as a fullback on National Signing Day, Feb. 4, 2026. He received his offer in March of 2025.

“I started crying immediately [when I got the call], because this is something I’ve worked for my entire life,” he said. “People haven’t seen the things I’ve gone through, the sweat, blood, tears and I’ve had burnouts before with this sport. It just means a lot to me to get to that point.”

As mentioned, Sams’ athletic career hasn’t been all triumphs.

“I wasn’t the best athlete when I was younger; I had to work for it completely,” he said. “I just want people to know my legacy is that if you work hard enough, you will get there. Hard work beats talent every day. I’ve been burnt out before. Sophomore year, I almost quit because I just felt like I wasn’t the best. I wasn’t performing to what I thought I could perform to. But that also made me work harder.”

Head Football Coach Justin Haberman, who has witnessed Sams’ journey, shared in his excitement.

“I’m excited for Connor,” Haberman said. “He will have a bright future. I know he will continue to be a strong leader in whatever avenue he chooses to take.”

But, Sams didn’t plan on his football journey taking him to the Air Force Academy.

“I actually had zero clue,” he said. :I’ve always wanted to go Division I as a kid, but I had no clue [where I wanted to go to college]. I just wanted to play Division I football. It didn’t matter where. I just wanted to play.”

When putting together a list of potential colleges to continue his academic and athletic career, the Air Force Academy actually didn’t make the cut.

“Recruiting is crazy nowadays, and I had a list of a bunch of different schools, the other academies were [on it], but Air Force wasn’t,” Sams said. “One random day, Coach Mookie Carlisle reached out to me on Twitter, and he just said, ‘Hey, buddy, just watched your film. What’s your phone number?’ He gave me the offer two days later.”

On the team, Sams is most looking forward to learning from current fullback, junior Owen Allen, and also working with running backs coach Tim Horton.

“I am really excited to work with him [Horton],” he said. “He is a great coach. He has a lot of credibility.”

While Sams signed on to be a full-time athlete, he also signed on for a minimum of five years of active-duty military service. But it’s all in the family.

Sams will be a fifth-generation military member. His father served in the Air Force for 22 years, his grandfather in the Air Force and Army for 16 years, his great-grandfather in the Marines for six years and his great-great-grandfather in the Air Force for four years. Sams, however, is the first to attend a service academy.

“It’s a golden ticket to life,” he said. “The benefits that come with it are immeasurable. Also, I want to keep going in my family and serve the country. It just has meaning to me.”

His father played a pivotal role, not only in Sams’ decision to attend the Academy, but also in his mindset throughout life.

“I built a mindset that I don’t care who you are. I am better than you, and I’m a winner,” Sams said. “My dad raised both his sons to be winners. My dad has the same mindset that he put into us.”

While Sams has much gratitude for the people around him, his father stands out most.

“First, I want to thank God for giving me these talents and for staying strong with me during the entire time. Second, I want to thank my family for always supporting me and being there by my side and my friends,” Sams said. “But the person I would say I want to thank the most is my father. He gets on my butt like no other. I’ve been working out since I was a little kid. Since I’ve been able to move, he’s been incorporating workouts into my life. When my brother and I were young, we had to get a deck of cards, and each card would mean something different for workouts. Spades were push-ups, and if it was a four spades, four push-ups. I hated that, but my father has definitely made the biggest impact [on me], and he’s my biggest fan.”

Along with military training and football practice, Sams also plans to pursue a degree in biology.

“I’m not that nervous, because I love work and I love a challenge, but I know it’s going to be very hard, especially with the rigorous academics,” he said.

The Air Force Academy is an undoubtedly atypical college experience, but Sams celebrates the difference.

“My dad explained to me that when he got to party during the Air Force, he remembered those times because of how much fun it was, because it’s not an everyday thing, it’s once every few months,” Sams said. “At the end of the day, I don’t think I will be missing out.”

Sams reports for basic training on June 24.