With Signing Day on Wednesday, here’s a look at Colorado athletes who are headed to play their sport in college.

Making adult decision has defined the better part of life for Alexisius “Q” Jones.

Make no mistake, the Fountain-Fort Carson running back is still very much a kid. He flashes a childish, yet confident smile when asked about his accomplishments on the football field. But he understands the full scope of those accomplishments and how they’ll help shape his life for the next 40 years after making an athletic and academic commitment to Dartmouth College.

Jones’ story isn’t one of consistent, big-time success on the football field. In fact, his story and current life trajectory is a story that sounds more suited for a Disney movie than anything.

“Both of my parents were in and out of jail and up until my sixth grade year, I was actually in a lot of trouble with the authorities,” Jones said. “It was my dad that helped me turn my life around.”

Eventually, Jones landed at Fountain Middle School for his seventh grade year.

(Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)

“After that, I changed my ways,” he said.

Change didn’t come without a little bit of help. He was pushed onto the football field by the middle school’s coach Paul Mileto — who also serves as the boys basketball coach at Fountain-Fort Carson High School.

It was a big step. A broken arm in fourth grade made the idea of contact sports terrifying for Jones’ mom so he was largely kept out of athletic activities. Instead he was hanging out with friends and at times getting in trouble.

The athletic culture in Fountain had an appeal, though. Jones found that the community truly cared about its athletic teams and because of that, those involved in the athletic programs greatly cared about the kids.

When Jones started playing for Mileto, he casually threw out a common dream for young athletes: He wanted to play Division I football. Mileto didn’t immediately rattle off what kind of workouts he needed or the physical measurements that are common for athletes playing at that level.

He stressed the most important aspect of making sure playing high-level college sports was possible.

“He told me if you have a 3.5 GPA or better, you’ll get to the places you want to be,” Jones said.

Jones took it personally.

“Usually teachers would request kids to be in higher (level) classes,” Jones said. “No teacher did that for me. It made me upset. I know I’m smart. I know I can do the work.”

So he did. He shined in the classroom the same way he shined on the football field during a standout sophomore season.

Then disaster struck.

(Theodore Stark/tstark.com)

A leg injury late in the season derailed the football part of his plan for over a year. Jones played in just one game his junior season, but immediately realized something wasn’t right. He continued to heal and rehab through the year and began to appreciate the game from a different perspective.

“The whole journey of my injury, I was just worried about not getting recruited,” Jones said. “I was fine with doing the rehab, I was fine working out because that’s just stuff I love doing as an athlete.”

It paid off. When the football season was green-lit for this fall, a healthy Jones hit the ground running. Far and fast.

In eight games he rushed for 1,853 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the state across all classifications. He quickly regained the form he held when he was just a sophomore. There was just one problem: the recruiting looks he was getting at that time weren’t as strong.

At one point, he was hearing regularly from Darian Hagan at the University of Colorado, but when head coach Mel Tucker abruptly left Boulder for another job, those conversations were few and far in between.

This fall was when Dartmouth really started paying attention. When they realized his grades were strong enough for Ivy League enrollment, they offered him a chance to keep playing football and get an Ivy League education in the process.

“I wouldn’t have guessed even three years ago that this would be his choice,” Trojans coach Jake Novotny said. “Some of it has probably changed because of COVID and the recruiting cycle and how that fell, but he told me Dartmouth was his choice because it was going to challenge him in football and it would also be an academic challenge. And he likes new challenges.”

By no means does this indicate a belief that he only has four years of football left in him. But between experiencing rough patches early in his life and a year where he couldn’t physically play football, he bad to assess his post-high school priorities a little differently.

“My injury definitely woke me up,” Jones said. “It was one of those wake-up calls that football can end any day. People always tell me when football’s over it comes back to your backup plan or your brain. That’s another reason I chose Dartmouth.”

An 18-year-old kid with the ability to play FBS football instead made an adult decision. And he holds no hesitation or regret in that choice. He’s going to continue to perform at his very best both on the gridiron and in the lecture hall.

It’s all a part of his plan for his life. He’s not looking to succeed as a football player or succeed as a student. He just wants to succeed.

“I think he’s a lot of life; a lot more life than most adults see at 30 or 40,” Novotny said. “He’s had to make adult decisions since he was in the fourth and fifth grade.”

It was tough at the time. But those decisions helped Jones shape his very bright future.

(Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)

(Steve Abeyta/steveabeytaphotography.com)

Wednesday is Early Signing Day for Division I football recruits, marking the start of a three-day early period where they can sign with colleges.

Below is a breakdown of our state’s 2021 recruiting class so far. Find a complete database of 2021 recruits from Colorado here.

[divider]

By the numbers

* – Through Dec. 16, 2020

[divider]

2021 Division I football recruits from Colorado

Note: Not all players have signed a National Letter of Intent; some are verbal commitments.

It didn’t looked like a normal National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Wednesday.

Conifer’s Zack Gacnik
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The current COVID-19 pandemic didn’t allow for the normal signing celebrations across Jeffco during the first of four signing days coming up for the Class of 2021. However, a number of Jeffco Public Schools student-athletes signed on Nov. 11 to continue their college careers.

Ralston Valley had nine girls sign, highlighted by last year’s Class 5A girls diving state champion Isabel Gregersen. She will dive for Florida State University. Sydney Bevington is taking her basketball talent to Santa Clara University and Jordan West is staying close to home to play softball at Colorado State University.

Columbine’s Korbe Otis
(photo provided)

Columbine’s Korbe Otis, who helped the Rebels to their first state softball title in 2019, officially signed with the University of Louisville.

The University of Colorado added Conifer’s Zack Gacnik to its roster. Gacnik placed third at the 4A boys cross country state championship last month in Colorado Springs.

The next National Letter of Intent Signing Day is Dec. 16 and includes the early football signing period.

Green Mountain High School
Connor Brauch, diving, University of Cincinnati
Isaias Estrada, wrestling, University of North Carolina
KC Ossello, lacrosse, Missouri Western State University

Ralston Valley High School
Makena Geist, softball, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Jaiden Geist, softball, Metro State University
Madison Hauffman, lacrosse, Notre Dame College (Ohio)
Jordan West, softball, Colorado State University
Brooklyn Seymour, basketball, Western Colorado University
Isabel Gregersen, diving, Florida State University
Megan Jackson, lacrosse, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Sydney Bevington, basketball, Santa Clara University
Sydney Metzler, swimming, University of Wyoming

Golden High School
Ben Kirschner, lacrosse, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Marla Goodspeed, softball, Oregon Tech
Sydney Benson, volleyball, Mercer
Maci Jones, soccer, Bentley University
Hank Ohlen, lacrosse, Belmont Abbey
Jadyn Goodrich, soccer, University of Denver

Conifer High School
Zack Gacnik, cross country, University of Colorado
Addie Hollander, lacrosse, Franklin & Marshall

Columbine High School
Korbe Otis, softball, University of Louisville

Evergreen High School
Margo Miller, lacrosse, Cornell University
Lauren Spence, lacrosse, Loyola University-Maryland
Madeline Mancini, lacrosse, Notre Dame College
Jared Stiller, lacrosse, Williams College
Thomas Schreffler, baseball, Mesa Community College (AZ)
George Hogan, baseball, Dordt University

Lakewood High School
Lila Maddux, swimming, Niagara University (NY)

Chatfield High School
Izzy DiNapoli, softball, University of Northern Colorado

Wheat Ridge High School
Wes Miller, baseball, Regis University

Arvada West High School
Alexis Kilgroe, water polo, Salem International University

Our Class of 2020 recruiting database lists more than 1,000 athletes moving on to play college sports.

JEFFERSON COUNTY — It was a day for celebrations across Jeffco on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Nearly 100 student-athletes from 11 different schools across the school district signed their National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. Feb. 5 marked the start of the Division I and II, along with the football regular signing period.

There is still one more signing period ahead that begins on April 15.

[divider]

[divider]

[divider]

Arvada West High School
Conner Bickford, soccer, Northeast Community College
Shayla Erickson, softball, Otero Junior College
Olivia Henkel, volleyball, Cornell College
Jay Lambert, baseball, Midland University
Justin Lepke, football, Western Colorado University
Noah McCandless, baseball, Garden City Community College
Nicholas Nuher, track, University of Colorado
Shelby Robb, softball, Metro State University
Isabelle Schwein, softball, Friends University
Addison Southwick, baseball, Augustana College
Braden Thomson, baseball, Feather River College
Josh Yago, lacrosse, Air Force Academy — Preparatory School

Bear Creek High School
Jose Ramos, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Josh Alejo, football, Harding University

Chatfield High School
Daniel Moore, baseball, University of Dubuque
Hayden Cross, baseball, McCook Community College
Cole Nash, cross country & track, University of Alaska-Anchorage
Abby Wilkinson, soccer, North Dakota State
Jacob Roybal, baseball, Mesa Community College
Jordan Ramirez, baseball, Northeastern Junior College
Garrick Levesque, baseball, Ventura Community College
Kyle Koppelmaa, baseball, Orange Coast College

Columbine High School
Ally Distler, softball, Colorado Mesa University
Annika Schooler, golf, South Dakota School of Mines
Makenna Riotte, lacrosse, Adams State University
Jackie Mudd, swimming, Biola University
Aden Sievert, lacrosse, Hood College
Adam Harrington, football, Middlebury College
Andrew Gentry, football, University of Virginia
Andrew Lauritzen, football, Missouri Western State
Braeden Hogan, football, Western Colorado University
Justin Lohrenz, football, Washington State University
Justyn Classen, football, St. Olaf College
Tanner Hollens, football, Colorado State University
Stephen Hughes, football, Concordia University-Nebraska
Joel Basile, baseball, Scottsdale Community College
Evan Johnson, volleyball, Trinity Christian College
Mark Thurman, baseball, Northeastern Junior College
Erica Mock, tennis, Whitman College

Conifer High School
Josey Nichols, softball, West Texas A&M
Kassidy Butler, lacrosse, Florida Southern College
Jordyn West, soccer, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Adie Brake, softball, Vernon College
Megan Wilkins, swimming, Arcadia University
Denali Douglas, volleyball, Union College

Dakota Ridge High School
Caley Akiyama, softball, Cottey College
Brianna Binder, volleyball, McKendree University
Luke Brandt, football, Bethel University
Kyle Cannon, football & track, Dakota State University
Matthew Heitmann, football, Air Force Academy
James Hess, football, Colorado School of Mines
Tia Krats, lacrosse, Regis University
Faith Lawson, softball, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Izaak McWilliams, football, Bethel University
Madeleine Nightengale-Luhan, volleyball, Colorado School of Mines
Connor Ohlson, cross country & track, Air Force Academy
Adam Rodriguez, golf, Loras College
Samantha Schmidt, lacrosse, Colorado State University-Pueblo

Green Mountain High School
Hunter Grogan, fencing, Vassar College
Kasey Klocek, cross country & track, South Dakota State
Sofia Parisi, beach volleyball, Concordia University
Braydon Schulz, baseball, North Dakota University of Jamestown
Trey Towndrow, football, Colorado Mesa University

Lakewood High School
Josh Beattie, baseball, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Olivia Desso, tennis, Chapman University
Caden Link, baseball, Pacific University
Faith Zehnder, volleyball, Holy Family University

Pomona High School
Sanjay Strickland, football, Colorado State University
Garrett Bishop, football, New Mexico State University
Adam Karas, football, Air Force Academy
Kyle Moretti, football, Central Michigan University
Chase Lopez, football, University of South Dakota
Trevor Baskin, basketball, Colorado Mesa University
Zoe Hendrix, soccer, Doane University
Ashlyn Mathers, softball, Augustana-Illinois
Bethany Tiscareno, softball, Otero Junior College

Ralston Valley High School
Payton Roberts, diving, University of Idaho
Riley Dmytriw, cross country & track, Colorado Christian University
William Wall, baseball, Whitman College
Paul Stone, swimming, Midland College
Braden Siders, football, University of Wyoming
Chase Wilson, football, Colorado State University
Caleb Rillos, football, Air Force Academy
Alexandrya Jacobs, soccer, Hastings College
JJ Galbreath, football, University of South Dakota
Ben Lenahan, golf, Whitman College
Ben Takata, football, Colorado School of Mines
Mitchell Morehead, football, Colorado School of Mines
Tanner Lallman, volleyball, University of the Southwest
Elizabeth Schweiker, cross country & track, Rice University
Parker Dorrance, baseball, Northeastern Community College
Walker Brickle, football, Colorado State University
Kaleb Tischler, football, South Dakota School of Mines
Ben Sampson, swimming, Colorado Mesa University

Standley Lake High School
Julianne Pelletier, cross country, Regis University
Jaren Cosby, football, Western Colorado University
Kevin Starnes, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University

[divider]

Wednesday is Signing Day, and schools across the state are honoring their athletes who are moving on to play college athletics.

(Paul Shepardson)

Wednesday is Early Signing Day for Division I football recruits, marking the start of a three-day early period where they can sign with colleges.

Below is a breakdown of our state’s 2020 recruiting class so far. Find a complete database of 2020 recruits from Colorado here.

[divider]

By the numbers

* – Through Dec. 18, 2019
[divider]

2020 Division I football recruits from Colorado

Note: Not all players have signed a National Letter of Intent; some are verbal commitments.

(Photo courtesy of Central High School)

Kole Taylor can’t help but smile when he sees what’s happening in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. First, the LSU Tigers were named the No. 1 team in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

Then, quarterback Joe Burrow claimed the 2019 Heisman Trophy, a feat once unfathomable for a program known more for a hard-nosed running attack.

After putting ink to paper on Wednesday, Taylor officially becomes a part of all that as he will indeed head south to join the LSU football program and try to keep it as the powerhouse that it became this year.

“They had really recruited blocking tight ends since their scheme was ground-heavy,” Taylor said. “This year, they got a new passing game coordinator and he opened up that offense a lot. What they saw in me was that I’m a passing-catching tight end.”

To find Taylor, LSU had to navigate over Vail Pass and through Glenwood Canyon to get to the western edge of the state. He’s another shining example that teams in search of talent can find it regardless of the hills they have to climb or the windy roads they have to navigate.

“If you have that talent you will be found,” Taylor said. “But you also have to put yourself out there.”

That’s not always the easiest thing to do when living in Grand Junction. But Taylor found a way because playing for a team like LSU is not something even the top Colorado recruits always get the chance to do.

“I worked up at Six-Zero with Matt McChesney,” he said. “He has a lot of connections and he was able to communicate to these coaches.”

That work in Denver paid off last February when the Tigers first reached out to Taylor. At first, they wanted to read his interest in them and also make sure he was the kind of athlete and kid that they could bring into their program.

It started out with just a few text messages and it wasn’t long after the initial conversations started that an offer was thrown out there.

“Feb. 25th they offered me,” Taylor said. “We had started communicating about a week before.”

Taylor took a trip down to Baton Rouge for the LSU spring game. The only other spring game he attended was at the University of Colorado.

But LSU had his attention from the very start.

“Some of their legends were there,” Taylor said. “Tyrann Mathieu was there, Leonard Fournette was there and it was great that those alumni care to come back.”

His official visit came at the beginning of the summer. That visit amplified his desire to be a part of something that he truly believed is special.

With his signing becoming official on Wednesday, he’s set to take the next step in football career. And while he wants to enjoy the day, he knows the work is far from over. In fact, it’s only just begun.

“I’m really excited to do this and get things rolling,” Taylor said. “I figure it will hit me once I’m there in Baton Rouge. The first week is going to be crazy. It’ll be a big transition.”

But it’s a transition that a pass-catching tight end from Grand Junction is looking forward to making.

(Photo courtesy of Central High School)

Golden
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools)

JEFFERSON COUNTY — The latest National Letter of Intent signing period has pushed the number of Jeffco student-athletes continuing at the next level to well over 200.

Several Jeffco high schools across the district has had signing celebrations since the final signing date period of the coming 2019-2020 academic school year began on April 17. The final signing date for Division I basketball programs wraps up May 15 and the last signing day for Division II football programs is August 1.

[divider]

Jeffco’s signers on National Letter of Intent — April 17

Bear Creek High School
KarlieAnn Bauer, softball, Dodge City Community College
Morgan Browne, volleyball, Colorado State University
Nathan Madrid, baseball, Metro State University
Miranda Manfre, track, Colorado School of Mines
Megan McGriff, women’s lacrosse, Marietta College
Ciara Navarro, softball, Trinidad Community College
Leon Sebastion, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Julian Vargas, baseball, Doane University

Chatfield Senior High School
Kira Coffee, women’s tennis, University of Nebraska-Kearney
Martha Geering, ice hockey, University of Colorado

Columbine High School
Ellie Barrow, women’s basketball, Ellsworth Community College
Daysha Mendez, softball, Dodge City Community College

Conifer High School
John Votaw, baseball, Augustana College
Avery Fulord, baseball, Trine University
Mitch Marinaro, men’s lacrosse, Midland University
Laurel Ainsworth, softball, Hawaii Pacific University

D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
Brady Sullivan, football, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Leah Sommer, volleyball, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Luca McIntyre, football, Avila University

Dakota Ridge High School
Zoe Plechaty, cross country/track, St. Olaf
Lucile Pidek, cross country/track, Fort Lewis College

Evergreen High School
Jina Alvis, women’s soccer, Johnson Wales University-Denver
Maggie McDonald, women’s soccer, West Point Military Academy
Bryce Pearson, baseball, Garden City Kansas
Paul Schreffler, baseball, Trinity University-San Antonio

Golden High School
Elizabeth Henshaw, women’s soccer, Culver-Stockton
Katie Dunson, softball, Lamar Community College
Jack Walters, football, Colorado School of Mines
Jonah Wimbish, men’s soccer, Augustana
Cassidy Paulson, softball, Neosho Community College
David O’Connell, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Jade Gomez-Chavarria, softball, Western Nebraska Community College
Tristen Emory, boys lacrosse, Fort Lewis College
Joe Quintana, baseball, Northeastern Junior College

Green Mountain High School
Jessica Greenwood, softball, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Summer Olson, cross country/track, College of Saint Mary

Lakewood High School
Elias Borjas, baseball, Iowa Western Community College
Carley Bennett, cross country/track, University of Colorado
Pierce Holley, football, Georgetown University
Jacob Brunner, men’s lacrosse, Johns Hopkins University
Elyse Hatch Rivera, women’s soccer, Macalester College
Kayla Colangelo, softball, Dodge City Community College
Lauren Rice, softball, University of Puget Sound
Isaac Garcia, swim and dive, St. Ambrose University
Rose Nadelhoffer, swim and dive, Macalester College
Kayleigh Knodel, volleyball, Colby Community College
Emily Booth, volleyball, Johnson & Wales University

Pomona High School
Mary Franssen, track, Northern State University

Ralston Valley High School
McKenna Bennett, swimming, Southern Illinois University
Lauren Foley, fencing, Wagner College
Myranda Grygorcewicz, cheer, University of Wyoming
Cole Jesch, football, South Dakota School of Mines
Shaun McDonnell, men’s soccer, Western Illinois University
Katie Olson, cheer, Brigham Young University
Tori Sayer, diving, University of Northern Colorado
Jordan Stratch, men’s basketball, Colorado Northwestern Community College

Standley Lake High School
Alex France, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Tyler Williams, track, Southern Utah University
Brady Rose, baseball, McLennan Junior College
Tyler Dorn, men’s golf, Lamar Community College
Haley Klasner, women’s soccer, Colorado Mesa University
Tate Minch, men’s soccer, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Nathan Adams, baseball, Labette Community College

Wheat Ridge High School
Jack Bozik, men’s lacrosse, Bellarmine University
Logan Duford, women’s soccer, University of Texas, San Antonio
Molly Kratzer, women’s soccer, Regis University
Ryan Peterson, men’s swimming, University of Southern California
AJ Wyse, football, Luther College

[divider]