Cochrane Cobras star receiver Dawson Gladue is another early signing by the University of Calgary Dinos football team for the 2020 season.

Last week, Gladue signed a letter of intent with the leading Canada West football team, well before the end of his current season with the Cobras.

Gladue says they put an offer on the table a month ago and he recently decided to sign.

Dawson signingHead coach Wayne Harris, Jr. congratulates Dawson Gladue on signing with the Dinos.

"This is where I want to be. I'm very happy."

Gladue says he believes his strongest attributes are putting hard work and intensity into everything he does.

Cobras coach Rob McNab agrees.

"Dawson is very football smart, very intelligent and he just has that knack of making the big plays. He catches the ball extremely well. He's definitely going to have to work on his size and speed, all those things that come with being a wideout; bigger, faster, stronger."

Gladue has played football in Cochrane since joining the Cochrane Lions atoms team. In peewees, he made the switch to running back, then receiver. He is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in track, soccer, ultimate frisbee and basketball for Cochrane High.

In addition to being in the hunt for his third provincial championship with the Cobras, Gladue also played for Team Alberta in the Canada Cup this summer and was a member of the provincial team that went to the Pacific Challenge in Hawaii the year previous.

Gladue will be joining another recent recruit from the Cobras on the Dinos. Cobras pivot Xavier Vaillancourt was signed on Sept. 1, the first day possible for high school signings.

It seems like more and more Cobra players are advancing to post-secondary play. Currently, Cobra alumni are playing on university teams in three provinces.

"I think it's becoming that way," says McNab. "They know that the coaching staff is trying to do our best with these kids. [The Dinos] are trying to get the inroads within Calgary and area and Cochrane High is one of the schools they look at."

In the case of receivers, McNab gives credit to coach Tom Forzani, noting he puts a receiver into USports pretty much every year.