Things are looking up for Brandon Kish.
The Amherst Steele tailback is coming off a successful track season and looking at potentially a great high school football season. And after that, he’ll head to Division I Ball State University to continue his football career on a full scholarship.
“I knew it was just a matter of time,” Kish said Thursday of the oral commitment he made Wednesday. “I don’t have much to worry about now.”
His junior season was just getting started when Kish suffered a hamstring injury after four games. He had gained about 700 yards and scored four touchdowns when the curtain dropped.
But by February, the hamstring had healed and track season was looming, one in which he would qualify to the regional in the 200-meter dash.
“I was disappointed, I felt like I let everyone down,” Kish, 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, said of the football season.
 “Brandon didn’t have a good junior year,” Amherst coach Kevin Fell said. “But he’s a good student, a big kid, fast. Ball State stuck with him, and he likes their campus, the school and the team.”
Influencing Kish’s choice was another Amherst product, Alex Knipp, who is going into his junior year with the Cardinals as a defensive back. The connection helped prompt Kish to attend the Ball State football camp in Muncie, Ind.
“They had an interest in him right off the bat,” Fell said. “With Alex, they moved him to defensive back, but I think they like Brandon on offense, at receiver or running back. But you know they will stick him wherever they need him.”
“I’ve known most of the coaches at Ball State for three years now, so I won’t change my mind,” Kish said, referring to the non-binding commitment. “I like defense, too, so it wouldn’t bother me if I played there.”
While the Cardinals were the main suitor, they weren’t the only ones.
“Brandon had lots of opportunities to stay in this area,” Fell said. “Bowling Green, Akron, Indiana all made contact. But Ball State is a good football program, they were in a bowl last year (the International Bowl). They have lots of Ohio kids. I hope Brandon will fit right in.”
While Kish has settled on his choice of college, there’s still the little matter of his senior year.
“I think we should be pretty good,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the season. I try not to think about getting hurt again.”
“Brandon has been a leader in his class, so we’re excited about this year,” said Fell. “He’s a running back and he’s just outstanding. He will play some defense, too, at cornerback or safety, but not all the time.”
Kish said he will major in exercise science.
“They have a good program for the major I’ve chosen,” he said.
Contact Mike Anderson at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.