[2] After being recruited nationally, he chose to play football at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.
In his final two seasons, Costa was the starter for most of Miami's games, including a memorable win against rival Florida State on October 8, 1994.
[4] Costa finished his college career with a record of 19–3 as a starter; he appeared in a total of 34 games for the Hurricanes, passing for 4256 yards and 22 touchdowns.
[6] He had tryouts with the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles, but did not make an NFL roster.
[8] After the Regional Football League ceased operation, Costa moved back to the Philadelphia area and became a financial adviser.