Iowa high school QB opts to play for Buffs

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jul 29, 2000 by Tim Mimick

With a change of heart, the University of Colorado has landed its only quarterback for the 2001 football signing class with Kyle Orton of Altoona, Iowa.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Orton will be a senior beginning this fall at Southeast Polk High School in Runnells, Iowa. He passed for 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

After a spectacular showing at the Nike football camp April16 at the University of Illinois, his stock rose considerably. A flurry of scholarship offers poured in and he soon committed to Purdue.

He changed his mind this week and selected Colorado before departing Thursday for the Student Sports Elite11 Quarterback Camp in San Diego, where 12 of the highest-ranked prep senior quarterbacks gathered.

His father, Byron Orton, declined to comment until his son returns to Iowa on Monday.

If Colorado would sign another quarterback for its 2001 recruiting class, he would have to be able athletically to switch to receiver or defensive back.

The Buffaloes might have only 10 to 15 scholarships available in February. The most a university can sign is 25 in a year and 85 total for all classes.

Orton's commitment means the Buffaloes won't recruit Bear Creek High School senior standout Justin Holland. Holland passed for 7,330 yards and 76 touchdowns the past two seasons.

"I think Justin clearly has the most upside of any kid to ever come out of Colorado," Bear Creek coach Tom Thenell said. "He's 16 years old; he won't turn 17 until October. He could be a junior.

"All I can say is that he won't be pursued by Colorado any more."

Thenell declined to list Holland's college choices other than to say that Colorado State and Miami have been among his other longtime pursuers. Brigham Young also has been listed as among his top choices by some Internet recruiting sites.

Holland, whom Thenell said is 6-4 although he's been listed at 6- 2 (and 195 pounds) by others, attended a Nike camp in Miami. He visited the Miami campus, attended the Hurricanes' spring game and also told Rivals.com that he thought Miami would "be winning a lot of ballgames in the future."

Four high school seniors have committed to the Buffs' 2001 class, including Mitchell High School defensive end James Garee.

NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from commenting on recruits until they've signed in February.

- Tim Mimick may be reached at 636-0365 or tmim@gazette.com

2001 CU commitments

James Garee, Mitchell High School, defensive end

Clint O'Neal, Weatherford, Texas, offensive lineman

Kyle Orton, Altoona, Iowa, quarterback

Drew Shader, Mullen High School, offensive lineman