Cadets’ Cassel headed to SMU
May 26, 2012 by Jerrel Swenning
YAKIMA, Wash. — Eisenhower quarterback Kolney Cassel is hoping football can take him far.
As of Thursday, it will take him a little more than 2,000 miles in the summer of 2013.
The senior-to-be orally committed to play college football at Southern Methodist University in Dallas for head coach and quarterback guru June Jones.
He can sign his letter of intent next February.
“It’s a program on the rise, they’re going to be joining the Big East and I want to be a part of that,” Cassel said.
As for the distance, the family atmosphere eased any apprehension.
“The coaches act like you’re their sons,” Cassel said. “I’m not going to have any family down there so that’s nice to have.”
One of those coaches, 1970s Walla Walla High three-sport standout and Mustangs associate head coach and defensive coordinator Tom Mason, was in town Thursday when Cassel made his decision.
Cassel then called Coach Jones to inform him that he’d be heading south.
“He said, ‘I’m glad you’re going to be a Mustang,’” Cassel said. “He’s my style of a coach, he’s a teacher and not a screamer.”
During a highly successful run at University of Hawaii, Jones worked with record-setting quarterbacks Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan. Brennan guided the Warriors to the 2008 Sugar Bowl and was third that season in Heisman voting.
Jones also was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in the mid-1990s and before that the offensive coordinator, and worked with former Oregon standout quarterback Chris Miller, who has been a mentor to Cassel the past few years.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Cassel set school records last fall by passing for 2,664 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was the CBBN 4A co-offensive player of the year with his top target, Cadets wide receiver Denzel Jones.
With his decision made, Cassel said he’d forego any more recruiting camps to practice and work on his conditioning for next season.
“That was a very important decision for him and his family,” Ike coach Dan Eyman said. “Now he can concentrate on his school work and the football season. I’m really excited for him.”
Eisenhower will attend Washington State’s team camp next month in Pullman.
Filed under All, Eisenhower, Football
I’ve had the opportunity to watch a lot of games at Zaepfel as part of the First Down Chain Gang. Kolney is the real deal on the field, and I’m not surprised a D1 scholarship awaits him. I also met Kolney as he played Little League with my son. Great kid. I wish more young atheletes with his level of talent would decide early and enjoy their senior year. Student comes before athelete, but too many put it the other way around. Good luck to Cassel family!