Jared CohenIt has been the most anticipated announcement from a high school player in Arizona for more than a year. The number one prospect in the state and five-star recruit out of Saguaro High School, Christian Kirk has made his commitment. It came down to Arizona State, Auburn, Ohio State,Texas A&M and UCLA.
In the end, it was Texas A&M that will be the home for Kirk at the next level.
“I feel like a giant monkey just jumped off my back,” said Kirk soon after his announcement. “This has been a lot. It started with the playoffs even just thinking about this, knowing that it was coming in a couple months. It’s crazy because on Monday night, I was still up in the air with three schools and I just sat in bed and said a really long prayer. Asking God show me where I need to be. Put it in my gut.”
“That’s the one thing everyone has told me is to go with my gut,” he added. “That was my hut feeling and I needed to go with it.”
For Kirk, many were wondering what would be the best fit. All the schools in the mix would have been a good fit for what he brings to the field offensively. For him to get to his decision, the non-football related aspects were what separated the Aggies from the rest.
“A lot goes through your mind, it’s outside of football,” Kirk explained. “Do you fit in, where you’ll be living, is that the place for you. You have to think about that all.”
“It came down to a comfort level and a fit,” said Saguaro Head Coach Jason Mohns. “The relationship he has developed with Coach (Kevin) Sumlin and the coaching staff over there, it just felt right and it felt like home and for a player like Christian, if he is comfortable and he is happy, that will give him the best chance to be successful.”
Kirk was quick to put to bed the fact that Texas A&M currently does not have a wide receivers coach currently on staff.
“Obviously a lot of people will be questioning,” he mentioned. “I’ve trusted Coach Sumlin and Coach (Jake) Spavital to bring in a guy who can develop me and take me to where I need to be. That was the biggest thing with Texas A&M. Just the trust factor since day one with them has just been awesome. They’ve done an awesome job recruiting me and I’m just blessed.”
Now the focus switches to the next level for Kirk. For someone who has been so dominant for so long between the white lines in this state, a new challenge presents itself suiting up for one of the nations top programs and playing in the Southeastern Conference.
“Part of it is sticking with what I have been doing all along,” he said. “Staying true to myself, being the person that I’ve always been. I don’t have any question about my work ethic. My work ethic is always going to be there. I am always hungry to be the best and I think that is what is really going to separate me. My want to be the best and my fear of being mediocre.”
“I’ve never seen a kid attack the game like he does,” mentioned Jason Mohns. “He’s truly a professional and doesn’t like being anything less than the best in anything he does. He does a great job of identifying what his weaknesses are and going about trying to get better at those things. And not just talking about it, but laying out a plan for what he needs to do to improve, and then going about doing it.”
“College also is about having fun,” Kirk added. “Experiencing new things, being in a different state. I am just excited for it all and I cannot wait to start working.”
Kirk now joins two players already from Arizona on the Texas A&M roster. Quarterback from Desert Mountain, Kyle Allen and defensive end from Hamilton, Qualen Cunningham were part of the Aggies 2014 class. Allen and Kirk go all the way back to elementary school as their were Pop Warner teammates that actually won national championships. The two hope to now have the same success at the next level together.
“Besides (Former Saguaro and now current Cal quarterback) Luke (Rubenzer), Kyle is the next up for who I have the most chemistry,” Kirk stated. “I know where he is going to put the ball and he knows where I am going to be. We have really good on-field chemistry and I cannot to see what we are going to be able to do on the field next year.”
#Legendary pic.twitter.com/xBXlhCAn0Q
— Kyle Allen (@KyleAllen_10) December 17, 2014
Kirk has graduated from high school early and will be enrolling at Texas A&M at the start of next semester so he can get right to work and participate in spring ball at College Station. The decision is behind him but that doesn’t mean his schedule lightens up at all before he leaves to attend college for good.
“It’s going to be hectic,” said Kirk. “With Christmas coming up and then the Under Armor All-American game, were going to have to go out with Mom and hit that list and get that dorm shopping done.”
“Christian is ready to get to work,” added Mohns. “He’s been a star at the high school level since his freshman year. He’s been there, done that. He is ready for his next challenge.”
Kirk left his stamp on the Arizona high school scene leaving with a state record of 103 total touchdowns in his four years and is also the state’s all-time leading receiver.
