RANGER, Texas — Ranger College rodeo coach Lew Rust has an eye for talent even when he doesn't see it.

Last year, Rust handed Freeport graduate Jake Rassau a full scholarship to be a bull rider without ever seeing him compete.

This year, that faith is being rewarded.

“I met Jake at the national high school finals last year,” Rust said. “He couldn't compete because of injury, but I've known Dale Smith (a national high school rodeo director from Pennsylvania) for a number of years.

“He knew I was looking for bull riders and he introduced me to Jake. Dale wouldn't steer me wrong and I was impressed with Jake when I met him.”

As a freshman bull rider at Ranger, Rassau ranks first in the 15-school Southwest Region of collegiate rodeo. There are about 70 bull riders in the region, which includes four-year schools Texas Tech, West Texas A&M and New Mexico State.

Ranger is a two-year community college. Rassau is majoring in welding technology.

“I had shoulder surgery and was out for that entire summer,” Rassau said of last year. “I dislocated it and tore some ligaments in an (bull riding) accident.

“College was something I never thought would come of this. (Rust) took a gamble on me. I didn't want to let him down.”

College rodeo scoring is done on a judges' point system. A maximum of 100 points can be attained with each bull ride.

Through five rodeos from the first portion of the season, Rassau had 395 points to lead the region and is ranked fifth in the nation.

The spring portion of the rodeo schedule begins in March.

Rassau has been bull riding for six years. He was introduced to the sport at the Buckhorn Ranch near Slippery Rock.

“His brothers went up there and did it for a while, too, but Jake really got hooked on it,” said his father, Charles Rassau. “This is what he wants to do.”

Besides the shoulder injury, Rassau once suffered a broken jaw when a bull's horns got up under his helmet. He had three front teeth knocked out during another mishap.

Yet he's never shied away from getting back up and riding again.

“It's kinda like a drug,” Rassau said. “I got hooked on it. The adrenaline rush I get when I'm out there — I can't explain it.

“In this sport, it's all on you if you mess up. I like that.”

And Rust likes Rassau.

“He's got great moral ethics and he really works hard at this,” the coach said. “He's a super athlete, very dedicated, and he's a natural bull rider.”

Rassau won his first collegiate competition in Portale, N.M., scoring an 81 on his first bull in the Long Round, then another 81 in the Short Go.

“You draw a bull and go ride it,” Rassau said of a competition. “It can happen, but you rarely get the same bull. Every bull is different.”

Rassau plans to compete at Ranger next year, too, before attempting to turn pro. Rust was a professional calf roper for a brief time.

“Jake could go to the pros down here and do well,” Rust said. “I'm hoping he sticks around Ranger for another year first. But the guts, the psyche, the natural ability — this kid's got all the tools.”