Dirk Knudsen; Washingtonpreps.com
It took a while but Kolney Cassel has his first major offer as he prepares to visit SMU!

We just covered the rise of this young gun Monday as he tore up the Air One Football Academy Sunday. Convinced he was among the best we have seen we went deep with Kolney Cassel.

Maybe that little media bump helped. Who knows. But today the day came for Cassel that he has been waiting for and working for since he was 7 years old.

He received a scholarship offer to play for the SMU Mustangs.

"I think I am still letting it sink in. But basically I had a message from my QB Coach Chris Miller to give them a call so I did. That led to me speaking to Coach Dan Morrison who let me know that SMU wanted me to play for them," said an excited Cassel.

How did that Texas connection get made? Well Chris Miller, the former Atlanta Falcon and Duck QB, is his trainer. Miller's opinion of him led him to call SMU where June Jones is the head coach. Both Miller and Jones are legendary QB Coaches.

Then Cassel appeared at the Air One Football Academy Sunday where former Vikings QB and first team All American John Charles is getting it done. Charles who is also close to June Jones called as well.

Cassel's Head Coach at Eisenhower, Dan Eyman, has been working the SMU connection too as he played for one of the Mustangs coaches during his career. 

After the perfect storm of calls the Mustangs staff watched Cassel's film and considered those personal referrals.

"They said once they saw my film they really thought I could be a guy that could make a great fit for their offense," said Kolney. "Right now I am just really honored and excited too."

SMU runs a wide open spread / run-n-shoot style offense and Jones himself wrote the book on it with the great Coach Mouse Davis while the duo were at Portland State in the late 1970's.  Cassel would be a great fit and plans to visit SMU who he says is not only a great fit for football but academically as well.

Now WSU and Coach Mike Leach enter the equation as they have apparently developed a high level of interest in Cassel. The young gun will make his move and visit WSU for early Junior Day visitation this Saturday where he is hopeful to get his shot.

"To be an Eastern Washington high school QB it would mean a lot to me to get a WSU offer. It would also mean a whole lot to get a shot at playing in a Mike Leach offense," Cassel added. "I would love that opportunity."

To say it will be celebration time around the Cassel home and in Yakima is putting it mildly. Having one of their own make it out to the bigs is a Victory for all of those kids, Coaches, staff and fans too who love football over on the Dry-Side of the State.

With Danny Mattingly at Mead of Spokane nailing down 6 offers this past week alone Cassel may join him as the heat gets turned up out there.

We congratulate Kolney Cassel who has traveled more and worked harder then almost anyone we know.

See his 2011 Game Film right here!

Join Us and support our work helping kids like Kolney Cassel…. for only $8 a month you can get all the news when it breaks and know that we will work hard  and NEVER CHARGE the Kids or their families a dime while still helping them get their story out to our growing National Audience at the Worlds #1 Sports family of websites!