Cool Keoshian article

[Mars]

Great read. Very insightful into who this kid is and why he's coming to Provo, of all places: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_13683172

Some interesting tidbits:

"(He said) I'm going to be the first guy to get a Division I scholarship to come out of SCCA," Moss recalled. [Santa Clarita Christian Academy plays 8-man football... the tiny K-12th grade school has only about 165 kids in high school] ...Keoshian, now a senior, proved to be a man of his word, sticking with the Cardinals despite constant overtures from bigger programs.

As a junior last year he rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 32 touchdowns while accumulating 169 tackles on defense while leading the Cardinals to their first Southern Section Division I 8-man title.

"The high school coaches are not allowed to call you, but the parents did," said Keoshian's father, Craig, who played strong safety at Fresno State. "I've had quite a few dads who knew me through Pop Warner and indicated that Collin would be a real big asset to their program." ..."Everybody's concern was, `Oh, he's not going to get noticed, no one's going to see him.' We had a talk and basically said, `You know what, if you're good enough, they're going to find you."'

After drawing interest from UCLA and USC and receiving scholarship offers from BYU, New Mexico and New Mexico State, Collin Keoshian decided to end the recruiting process before he was a senior. Curiously, the devout Christian chose BYU, a Mormon institution. Keoshian chuckled at the irony of ending up at a school with a different belief system. Turns out the appeal is how firmly rooted BYU students are to their faith. "They're a humanistic school," said Keoshian, who is a huge admirer of fellow Christian and Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow. "The thing I was looking for was a clean campus with a good moral background. Mormons are like that. Of course our doctrines are completely different, but if I were at USC or UCLA or Cal, their campus isn't (morally) clean like BYU would be."

During Keoshian's recruiting visit, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall had a local pastor from a Christian church speak with Collin and his father. Mendenhall also pointed out there were about 10to 15 Christians on the team and two assistant coaches. "Its a university first, it's not that you go on campus and everybody attacks you kind of, (telling you) you're not a Mormon and they're trying to convert you," Craig Keoshian said. "Not at all. In fact, on campus, it's no different than going to UCLA or USC. Coach Mendenhall assured us that when Collin's on campus, no one's going to bother him because he's not Mormon."

Then there was promise BYU made to Collin Keoshian that his scholarship would be honored even if he got injured during his senior year with the Cardinals.

In the fall, Keoshian will suit up as a middle linebacker for the Cougars. "I wanted (to play) the position that was most suitable for the NFL and I think I could hopefully get a better chance at linebacker for the NFL than running back," Keoshian said.

As if choosing BYU weren't interesting enough, AzuzaPacific also had a shot at landing Keoshian because his girlfriend, Kaley Morrison, goes there. In his free time, Keoshian often drives to Azuza Pacific with his teammate and best friend, Colin Mayhugh, whose girlfriend, Taylor Tronson, is Morrison's roommate and best friend. "APU had some good (recruiting) tools there," Keoshian said, laughing. "(But) she's totally supporting me going to BYU. I told her that going to BYU is best for our future together."

[Schmoe]

I really like reading about the new commits and it paints a very good picture of BYU. The only thing is I wish they wouldn't refer to Christians and Mormons as being distinct.

[jonnylingo]

I really like reading about the new commits and it paints a very good picture of BYU. The only thing is I wish they wouldn't refer to Christians and Mormons as being distinct.

no kidding. that is so funny. There are like "10-15 christians on the team as well". That was my favorite part.

[Lawboy]

Great read. I just want to point out the fact that it was the HC that was the draw for this kid, not a hindrance. It may not be for every kid, but it can be for many. And I love that and respect the non-LDS kids who come to BYU even more for there stance.

[Sammich]

"Its a university first, it's not that you go on campus and everybody attacks you kind of, (telling you) you're not a Mormon and they're trying to convert you, [. . .] Coach Mendenhall assured us that when Collin's on campus, no one's going to bother him because he's not Mormon."

Oh, how I wish this were true. Poor kid (and apparently Coach Mendenhall also) doesn't realize that there are ignoramuses(ignorami?) and self-righteous people no matter where you go. And at BYU that means he is, at some point during his stay here, going to be bothered because he's not Mormon.

[Florwood]

"Its a university first, it's not that you go on campus and everybody attacks you kind of, (telling you) you're not a Mormon and they're trying to convert you, [. . .] Coach Mendenhall assured us that when Collin's on campus, no one's going to bother him because he's not Mormon."

Oh, how I wish this were true. Poor kid (and apparently Coach Mendenhall also) doesn't realize that there are ignoramuses(ignorami?) and self-righteous people no matter where you go. And at BYU that means he is, at some point during his stay here, going to be bothered because he's not Mormon.

Agreed, but some of those who will talk to him won't be arrogant or self-righteous, they'll just want to share. Not a bad thing, just done poorly sometimes.

So i predict he marries his girlfriend after his sophomore season, she comes to BYU for graduate work, and they both join the LDS church a year later. A sort of Detmer/Brown situation. Doesn't gotta, just does.

[Schmoe]

I think that the self-righteous or overpreachy are the exception and not the rule. Most BYU students are fairly normal kids just going to school, but the Zoobies give them all a bad rap.