Kolton Houston given opportunity to follow father’s footsteps to UGA
Buford OL Kolton Houston has UGA and Georgia Tech offers (Photo by Brandi King)
Shane Houston tried his best to hide the excitement over his son, Buford’s Kolton Houston, being offered a football scholarship by Georgia. Shane played at UGA, and there’s just something special when your son is offered by your former team. It’s one of those father-son things. Shane tried to put on his best “game face” but it wasn’t really working.
“It definitely means a lot for Georgia to offer,” Shane said on Monday evening. “Any father would think that. It was honor. It felt special. Now it’s in Kolton’s hands on what to do with the recruiting process.”
The son is not sure what to do just yet. For Kolton, Georgia is offer No. 13, including Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Clemson, Auburn and Michigan State. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound offensive lineman said the lack of a Georgia offer, especially with the family connections, created an uneasy situation.
“It started getting a little discouraging,” Houston said. “Then I sat down with my high school coach and talked about it. I realized that Georgia doesn’t offer people early. I’m just not the type of person to be cocky and write Georgia off my list just because they haven’t offered. And look, it all worked itself out. Like [Mark Richt] said, ‘It’s only March 30.’”
According to Kolton, the UGA coach also said something else very interesting before handing him the magic envelope. “When I got into Coach Richt’s office, he talked about how messed up recruiting has gotten, how fast it has gotten with [prospects] getting offered earlier and earlier. Then he said, ‘I have something for you to read.’ He showed me a piece of paper and it was a scholarship offer.’”
What was Houston’s reaction? “I wasn’t necessarily expecting the offer. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Georgia didn’t offer me [on Monday], and I wasn’t going to be surprised if they did offer me. They did, and it was good news. I thanked him and he said for us to keep in touch.”
Was he tempted to commit to UGA on the spot? “The offer meant a lot, but I’m not planning on making a commitment anytime soon. I’m probably going to decide on a school in June. Just because my dad played at Georgia doesn’t mean I’ll go to Georgia. They are up there on the list, but there are other schools just as high as them on the list.”
Football is family time for the Houstons. Kolton has 13 early scholarship offers, with the last two being UGA and Tennessee. He is thinking about making his college decision in June. Houston starts for Buford High School, the two-time Class AA state champions
Now back to the father-son thing. Shane grew up in the Atlanta area, signed with Western Illinois, and later transferred to Georgia. The hard-nosed linebacker had worked hard enough to compete for playing time during his final season for the Bulldogs in 1988. Yet on the second day of preseason practice, he broke his ankle and his career ended. However, it wasn’t a total loss. He did some successful recruiting on his own, marrying Tiffany Houston, who also attended UGA.
However, Shane says he won’t be recruiting his son with the same intensity. “It’s an honor with all the schools that have offered Kolton. We want it to be Kolton’s decision. It’s important for him to figure out on his own the college that fits him the best academically and on the football field.”
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41 comments Add your comment
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
March 31st, 2009
8:18 am
The recruiting process is no big deal for Kolton. He has plenty of experience in being recruited and Buford won the recruiting battle. It was pretty simple. The weight room provided by Hall County SPLOST money won him over.
dap01
March 31st, 2009
8:31 am
Congratulations Kolton. You will be very successful where ever you go.
You have great options.
If you go to UGA, you can follow in your father’s footsteps, you will win 10+ games each year and possibly play pro ball. The 92,000+ fans will adore you. You will have a great future with a degree from UGA.
If you go to Tech, you can get tickets for family and friends very easily. You can get to finish in the top 30 every 5 years or so. And you will get to play on TV on Thursday nights (sometimes, is Boise State is not the game picked by ESPN). Tech even averages 45,000+ each game. You will have a great future with a degree from Tech.
Big Bee
March 31st, 2009
8:35 am
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger, I am a long time GT Fan and I also know that Buford is not located in Hall County Ga. Get your facts straight before you make snide comments.
Tenn Dawg
March 31st, 2009
8:55 am
Okay all you bb heads. Wow what an awesome legacy of being 1-7 against the Dawgs. I suspect Kolton will become a Dawg and then you can cry red and black.
Chris Medeiros
March 31st, 2009
9:42 am
Poor MN Jacket… Do you not realize that UGA owns this state? We have more fans, and more money! The AJC wants people to visit this site. Tech is not interesting. Tech is in a city with 4.5 million and has an attendance of 50k… UGA is located in a town with 100k and triples that on GameDay! 92k in the stands and countless fans just there to tailgate!
Plus the major recruits that readers would like to hear about are not considering TECH. And while you have a coach that runs an archaic offense, blue chippers will choose an offense that will help them live their dream of playing in the NFL.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
March 31st, 2009
9:55 am
Facts are checked. Check again Big Bee, a portion of Buford is in Hall County and any SPLOST money that Hall gets, then a portion goes to Buford City Schools, just like Gainesville City School. Apparently they don’t have any courses on map reading or common sense at Tech. If you ever see Bufords weight room, you will understand. This is not booster money. Now take that round house kick to the head big bug.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
March 31st, 2009
9:58 am
I hope Kolton dosen’t follow in his dad’s footsteps. I would like to see him not have to go to Tenn Military and then when he gets to UGA is only kickoff coverage.
JT
March 31st, 2009
10:14 am
Shane you do not tell kids that they are not good enough, or that they are too slow or that they need to play another sport. I know of 3 kids that you told them that including my own. 2 of them loved the game but never played again. I have coached all my life and never said that to a kid. You cared more about winning your 10 year old championship trophy than teaching these kids the fundamentals of football. It does not matter if the kid is the worst player on the team, you never knock them down. Instead as a coach you need to encourage them to love the game. At that age all those kids want to do is play and have fun, you never know if they ever will become a top player. Oh by the way, my son the one you specifically told him he was too slow, fat and not big enough is now 6′2 and 225 and runs a 4.4 forty linebacker that has 10 scholarship offers from Soputhern Cal to Miami. Looking at a 10 year old you can never tell what he might develop into. You might remember, I was the one who confronted you have you told my kid that he was not good enough and when I did you were a coward who had to call other coaches to protect you. Real tough with the kids. Hard hitting linebacker my ass.
GeoffDawg
March 31st, 2009
10:18 am
If you go back and re-read MinnesotaJacket, you’ll see that tech was mentioned under the tag of “others receiving consideration”. I’m surprised you missed it given that’s usually where you find tech in the AP top 25.
thought you might find this interesting
March 31st, 2009
10:30 am
Enter your comments here
DawginLex
March 31st, 2009
10:39 am
Hopefully, he will enjoy being recruited by top flight programs like UGA. Hopefully, he will realize he doesn’t want to turn out like so many of the Tech folks who stalk the UGA blogs. Why do they stalk?
BECAUSE THEY AREN’T UGA GRADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can remedy that kid by signing with UGA.
Buddy El
March 31st, 2009
10:49 am
JT:
Apparently you have an ax to grind with Shane but this ain’t the place. From your post you sound much like the type of person you are painting Shane to be. I don’t know either one of you but I beleive the blog is supposed to be about Kolton, not you, Shane or little leagers that may have been mistreated.
Mookie
March 31st, 2009
10:57 am
JT, I assume You and Shane are not buddies right? Sounds like GA-GA TECH guys going at it! Any chance your son going to GA?
JT
March 31st, 2009
11:04 am
Buddy el, I do not have an ax to grind. If you read my post I confronted him but like a coward he had his coaches hold me back before I broke his face. We are not the same, I would never demeane or berate a kid. Kids were not mistreated their hearts were broken. Apparently you do not have a child. You did not come home that day and held your child in your arms and try to console him while he is crying and saying he sucks and will never play again. Fortunately I was able to let him know that never let anyone take the love out of the game from you.
JT
March 31st, 2009
11:05 am
Mookie, yea we are not buddies and no this is not a GA-GT. I am a Miami Hurrican fan. I do not know if my son is interested in UGA. He has not received ab offer from them.
MoDawg
March 31st, 2009
11:08 am
The Tech jealousy will never end. They couldn’t wait to get on here and trash a young man who is MERELY considering UGA after they offered. GT was also on his list, but if he ever catches a glimpse of their fan base (not all of them, mind you) on these blogs, the choice will be clear. UGA is the place to go! I wish him well wherever he decides to go.
Bama Dawg
March 31st, 2009
11:28 am
Hey JT,
Get over it and move on. Like Buddy El said, this is a recruiting article about the kid, not about the dad, and this is not the fourm for your vents. Also wonder why you don’t even know who your son is interest in . . do you ever talk to him or does he ever confide in you? Sounds like you are a little bitter that Kolton has an offer from UGA and your son doesn’t.
GeoffDawg
March 31st, 2009
11:35 am
This blog is turning into an episode of Jerry Springer. All we need now is a 40 year old tech fan admitting he’s still a virgin.
Regarding JT’s kid – if he’s as good as advertised, hopefully Georgia will take a look at him. However, watch out for fireworks at the parent orientation.
Ugarooster
March 31st, 2009
11:50 am
If you want to compete for confrence championships come to UGA.Not to a coach that is going to have his offensive scheme figured out in two years.This is not navy or Ga Southern.This is big boy football.
Big Bee
March 31st, 2009
12:12 pm
Bank Walker Texas Ranger, checked you out and you are correct. Don’t mind admiting that I was wrong. That round house kick to the head sounds more like a WWF fan than college football. From your blog, it is hard to tell if you dislike GT, Buford HS or a combination of the two. Good luck to whoever you support.
Just a fan
March 31st, 2009
12:14 pm
This recruit does not have an offer from Tech. He wants to play defense and GT only wants him on Offense and has told him that if he decides to play offense then GT will offer but until then he does not have an offer. The AJC reported this only about a week ago. So, this whole discussion is over. He could not at this point commit to GT even if he wanted to. Good luck to him whatever he decides.
Michael Carvell
March 31st, 2009
12:55 pm
Georgia Tech DID offer Kolton Houston on Georgia Tech’s Junior Day in January. Kolton sat down with Paul Johnson, who said that both the offensive and defensive coaches had watched his tape and they both wanted him. Paul Johnson has given Kolton the option of picking either side of the ball. Georgia Tech keeps in touch with Kolton just about every day with hand-written letters and could commit to the Yellow Jackets today, if he wanted.
Ed
March 31st, 2009
1:03 pm
Kolton, if winning state championships is your thing, remember that Tech manages to win one every seven years or so.
GeoffDawg
March 31st, 2009
1:09 pm
Check – make that eight years Ed.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
March 31st, 2009
1:15 pm
Big Bee, its Buford. Buford is the Notre Dame of AA High School Football
Nate Dawg
March 31st, 2009
1:53 pm
Last night an ESPN basketball analyst referred to Tech as a small private school. Just face it, u guys just aren’t relevant on a national level. And if u think beating your rival by 3 points once every 8 years is gonna change that, you’re sadly mistaken.
Reality Check....
March 31st, 2009
3:02 pm
Tech fans really need a reality check…
Bulldog
March 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
I really hope he becomes a Georgia Bulldog. It is special that his Daddy played at Georgia and he could have that opportunity too.
Football Guide
March 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
JT,
`
Hale
March 31st, 2009
4:51 pm
UGA……. nice choice !!!!
Big Bee
March 31st, 2009
5:11 pm
Nate Dawg, someone has been misleading us. UGA Fans are telling us that GT & UGA is not a rivalry, now you say it is, come on now, is it or not?
bank walker
March 31st, 2009
6:16 pm
Kolton, you’ve got red and black running through your veins like the rest of us Dawgs! It seems like Shane raised you up from a pup to be a Dawg! Would love to see you in Sanford the next 4 years. Good luck!! GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!
Buddy El
March 31st, 2009
7:01 pm
JT: Yes I have kids and I coached 9/10 year olds(runnerup National Champions in 1977) and 11/12 year olds for 16 years. I also coached youth league baseball and basketball but I never got in the face of another coach or adult over whether my kid played or not or anything else of any significance. I don’t know your entire story but putting yourself in the position that others(coaches) had to restrain you does not belong at any level of sports and especially kids. I really shouldn’t be chastizing you since I do not know that much about you. Please don’t take anything I said personal. Good luck.
what is this nonsense?
March 31st, 2009
7:39 pm
thisis pathetic,first JT, any player that So cal has offered, Uga would have offered, idc what you have to say. so that is made up, you sound like Storm Johnson and Daunte Carr. Especially if they are in state. you are sounding dumb talking trash about Shane since it happened a long time ago. You have no class for coming on here and saying that…what you going to do, break my face now?
what is this nonsense?
March 31st, 2009
7:46 pm
and whats your son’s name so i can look him up on rivals?
Von Rich
March 31st, 2009
8:22 pm
Anyone with any sense about football would know that which ever program Kolton chooses that program will be getting a first class family in addition to the number one lineman in the state. As far as Shane Houston goes I know first hand his concern in youth league wasn’t wins and losses as having a kid that played for him “it was always about the kids” JT
Lil Q
March 31st, 2009
8:22 pm
LOL @ Tech prof. “defending college state champions”. Remember the Dawgs still had a better season.
'10 GA DT Kolton Houston - Recruiting Forums
April 1st, 2009
7:05 am
[...] Kolton Houston given opportunity to follow father’s footsteps to UGA | Inside College Recruiti… [quote]The son is not sure what to do just yet. For Kolton, Georgia is offer No. 13, including Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Clemson, Auburn and Michigan State. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound offensive lineman said the lack of a Georgia offer, especially with the family connections, created an uneasy situation. [...]
Everything About Games
April 2nd, 2009
1:05 am
[...] Kolton Houston given opportunity to follow father’s footsteps to … [...]
dallasga6
April 2nd, 2009
12:20 pm
Whatisthisnonsense?
I checked out USC recruiting, the only LB’s USC has offered that have an offer from miami & USC are Christian Jones from Lake Howell in Winter Park Fla & Jeff Luc from Ft. Pierce…can’t be Luc, he’s been offered by UGA…JT said his boy was 6-2,225lbs & a 4.4-40 time…C. Jones is 6-4,215 &
a 4.7-40 time…. Dunno….
macrotech
April 4th, 2009
5:28 am
Nate Dawg, Montana’s son said that he didn’t know anything about uga…..til he got an offer to come play for them….how relevant is THAT?! Preseason ranking of #1 and uga didn’t EVEN register on this kid’s radar. Lil Q, your mutts were, AGAIN, the owners of a preseason #1 ranking and ended up losing 3 games….NOT to mention that one of those was to the Yellow Jackets! Those same Yellow Jackets weren’t projected to do anything considering all the changes and THEY won 9 games! Your hiney sniffers MIGHT have won one more game, BUT all things considered….Tech had the better season. ;0)