Eric Cottner, a 2008 Western graduate, has always considered himself an average guy.

Then a telephone call landed this average guy among the hottest bachelors in America.

He was named one of the hottest bachelors of 2009 for Cosmopolitan magazine’s November issue, which is on stands now.

Cottner is an outside property claimer for travel insurance. He said he meets a lot of people through his job.

Cottner met Christopher Whipple, a 2008 Cosmo bachelor, when his job required training in Maryland.

Whipple nominated Cottner to be in the magazine after Cosmo called and asked if he knew any single bachelors from Kentucky, Cottner said.

Cottner then received a call from the magazine and was asked to go to New York for an interview and photoshoot, he said.

“When Cosmopolitan called me, I thought it was a joke,” he said. “Out of the entire state of Kentucky, I thought they could find somebody better.”

He was up against other men from Kentucky, but Cosmo officials deliberated and decided Cottner was the best choice for Kentucky’s hottest bachelor, he said.

“There’s really nothing too outstanding about myself,” Cottner said. “It’s been an interesting experience, but I’m really an average guy and don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

Cottner said his family was ecstatic about him being named a Cosmo bachelor, while his friends gave him a hard time.

Eric Cottner’s mother, Pam Cottner, said she was surprised when she learned her son had been chosen for the magazine because she didn’t know anything about it.

“But Eric has a wonderful personality and has always been a very personable child and young man,” she said.

Modern Languages Instructor Tim Straubel, who taught Eric Cottner in German 101 and 102, said he isn’t surprised that Cosmo deemed him Kentucky’s hottest bachelor.

“Eric is a good-looking guy,” Straubel said. “He is very outgoing and liked to be engaging and engaged in class. He was a leader and worked well with people.”

Eric Cottner has had many opportunities open up for him after being named Kentucky’s hottest bachelor, including an offer to be on a VH1 television show, which he turned down.

“I don’t need to go on national television and show everyone how silly I am,” he said. “I’m just going to keep working and living my life.”