Lamar Houston, a man-child of a football prospect, can enjoy being a kid for another year.
The senior at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs announced Monday that he committed orally to Texas and said he will make it official on national signing day in February.
“I’ve been thinking about it all summer,” Houston said. “I really didn’t talk about it, but I always wanted to go to Texas. It should be the right place.”
Houston was prepared to wait until after his senior season to make his choice, as he “didn’t know if I was mature enough to say exactly where I was going. I didn’t think I would commit early, didn’t know if I’d be ready.”
But after a visit to Texas and discussions with his family and Doherty coach Mike Sirko, the running back and linebacker, a schoolboy preseason All-American in 2005, decided to end further speculation.
Ultimately, he said, it will make his senior season easier to deal with.
“It does,” Houston said. “Now, I don’t have to worry about seeing (recruiters) in the stands.”
Said Sirko: “I don’t think he wanted 25 calls a night. All along, deep down, I think he has been wanting (to commit early). He was open to the whole process and to find the best place for him.”
At 6-feet-3, 255 pounds, Houston, who excelled at linebacker last season after being switched from the defensive line, drew national interest because of his speed, quickness and big hits. He was All-Colorado at linebacker by The Denver Post as a junior.
This season, Houston will return to linebacker, but Sirko has experimented in the preseason with switching him from fullback to halfback.
At Texas, Houston said he will play defensive end and be given an opportunity to compete for playing time in 2006.
He carries a B average at Doherty, has met the college-entrance requirements and plans to major in sports management or communications.
“The top five teams in the country wanted him,” said Sirko, who has coached top-flight players, including Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Dexter Wynn at nearby Rampart.
“Lamar will do whatever it takes to be successful,” Sirko said. “He’s not just a kid of great character, he’s very driven. Now, he can have a little fun playing football, basketball and track for his high school.”
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
