The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports

HOUSTON

It's a Georgia kid's dream, a chance few high school football players ever receive - the opportunity to suit up in red and black for the home-state Bulldogs.

In the spring of 2010, Kolton Houston, an Under Armour All-American offensive guard from Buford High School, will see this opportunity after committing to Georgia at the G-Day game, spurning the likes of Clemson, South Carolina, Florida State and Auburn to follow in his dad's footsteps, who played at Georgia for two season in the late '80s.

"Georgia has the total package," the 6-foot-5-inch, 270-pound Houston said. "They have the academics. They have a great football tradition. They have a great college atmosphere without the sports and a great fan base there, and Athens is just a great place."

Former high school teammate and close friend Dallas Lee, a freshman offensive lineman for the Bulldogs who enrolled at Georgia in January, is raving about his time in Athens thus far.

"He loves it," Houston said. "He said it was the best decision that he's ever made, and he wouldn't take it back for anything. He loves being up there and calling himself a Georgia Bulldog, and it's going to be fun to get to play with him again."

Another factor in Houston's early decision was his relationship with Bulldogs' offensive line coach Stacy Searels - who he gained a close relationship with while Searels was recruiting Lee at Buford.

"I think he's a great coach and a great man with great character, just like all the other coaches at Georgia, and I think that's another reason I fell in love with Georgia," Houston said. "And I've just gotten to know him over the last two years from him recruiting Dallas Lee because me and Dallas are really good friends, and I've gotten to know him from there. I think he's a great person and a great human being."

After Houston was able to visit and watch several practices and scrimmages over the spring, he is expecting a great season from his future teammates.

"They're one heck of a football team," he said. "What I saw from the spring and several practices, when I went to watch, is they competed really well and they got after the ball, so I definitely think they will have a great season."

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