This is one young man who has is priorities set right.

Justin Wyatt, a senior at Dolores County High School, signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

"I decided on the Mines because I know I can get a great education," he said. "I hope that in five years, I will come out with a good education and find a good job. Right now I’m leaning towards a major in mechanical engineering but I may decided to go on to school and become a doctor. If I get a degree in mechanical engineering, I can go that way or I can go on to school and become a doctor."

Wyatt had received several offers from junior colleges and some other colleges, but liked the new head coach at Colorado School of Mines.

"I liked him when I talked with him," he said. "He is new at the school. I know he is really trying to turn things around."

Coach Bob Stitt was the offensive coordinator at Harvard University last year. He put in the high-powered West Coast-style offense at the University of Northern Colorado.

"I like to throw the football a lot and I like that type of offense," Wyatt said. "I will probably redshirt my first year. That is fine with me. Coming from a small place like Dove Creek, I won’t mind sitting out and concentrating on my studies for now. But I just want to concentrate on two things: Studies and football in that order."

Wyatt looks fondly back on his football career at DCHS.

"It was the greatest experience of my life. I had such a good time. I had such a great coach (longtime DCHS head coach Ken Soper). He is the one who got me in touch with the Mines. I owe a lot to home. We made the playoffs all those years. We nearly beat the (Class 2A) State champs (Wiggins). We should have beaten them," he said.

Wyatt started four years at quarterback for the Bulldogs, leading them into the playoffs all four years. In his freshman year, he completed 58 of 122 passes for 779 yards and nine touchdowns. As a sophomore, he hit 88 of 172 for 1,214 yards and 10 TDs, finishing sixth in Class 2A in passing yards. His junior year he connected on 63 of 181 yards for 1,088 and 12 TDs, finishing second in the state in yards. Last fall Wyatt completed 85 of 181 attempts for 1,438 and 18 touchdowns, finishing fifth in yards but second in passing proficiency.

He set school records for passing yards in one game of 359 during the 1999 season. He set the standard for TD passes with 18 for a season. He finished with the most total offense in one season with 4,710 yards.

Wyatt was chosen First Team All-Conference as a defensive back as senior and Second Team All-State at quarterback. He was named First Team All-Conference at quarterback as a junior and Honorable Mention All-State at quarterback. He also was HM at QB as a sophomore as well.

"I would have to say he ranks as one of the all-time best quarterbacks in DCHS history," longtime DCHS head coach Ken Soper said. "He was such a great athlete in all three sports. One of his great attributes is his ability to get away from would-be tacklers. He’s a better roll-out quarterback rather than a drop-back. He has very quick feet. That’s where he really helped our football team.

"I think he can play at that level (National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division II football). If he doesn’t end up playing football, he will play as a defensive back. He’s been underrated as a defensive back. But during the season, they wouldn’t throw his way very much."

Wyatt not only is a star quarterback but an all-around athlete. He started as a forward for the Bulldog boys basketball team which advanced for the first time in many years to Regionals before losing there. He is a pitcher and shortstop for the DCHS baseball team, currently 12-2 overall.

Not only is he an outstanding athlete but he will be the valedictorian at graduation this May. Several of his electives he’s taking at Pueblo Community College.

"I didn’t want to go to high school just to mess around. And I don’t want to go to college just to go party and play football. I take education very seriously," he added.