Missouri tight end visits K-State, then commits to TU
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, February 03, 2013
2/03/13 at 5:28 PM
Kansas State recently extended a football scholarship offer to Kolton Shindelar, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end and track star from Liberty, Mo.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, Shindelar returned home from having made an official visit to the K-State campus.
At 4 p.m., he announced his commitment – to the University of Tulsa football program.
After getting offers from programs in the Big 12 (Kansas State and Baylor), Southeastern Conference (Missouri), Pac-12 (Arizona State) and Mountain West (San Diego State), Shindelar made his TU commitment during a phone conversation with Golden Hurricane assistant Scott Downing.
“I got back from Kansas State today, and I decided on Tulsa today,” said Shindelar, who until recently was known more for his track-and-field achievements than for his football talent. “I’m going to do a hat ceremony on Wednesday (national signing day), but I’m 100 percent solid with Tulsa.”
With Shindelar’s decision, there now are 21 prospects on the TU commitment list. Verbal commitments are not binding. Recruits may sign national letters of intent on Wednesday.
For the Liberty track team last spring, Shindelar qualified for the Missouri state meet in the 110-meter hurdles. He also competed in the 200 meters and long jump. Because he played only one season of at the varsity level, Shindelar’s football potential became apparent only recently.
In late November, TU became the first major-college program to offer a scholarship.
“What’s happened is that people have been able to see what (Shindelar) has done on film, then stand beside him and see his size,” Liberty coach Chad Frigon told Scout.com, referring to the late flurry of scholarship offers. “Putting those two things together made him a very hot recruit.”
Shindelar made official visits to Tulsa, Missouri and K-State.
Explaining his TU decision, Shindelar said, “Ultimately, it was the family atmosphere. I felt very comfortable when I was there with the coaches and the players.”
Shindelar says TU’s status was fortified when head coach Bill Blankenship visited the Shindelar home in suburban Kansas City.
“He made a great impression on my mom,” Shindelar said. “She said it was almost like he was family.”
