The time was right, Ben Kerr said, to choose his college destination.
Kerr, a senior for Iola High’s Mustangs, announced this week he will attend Baker University.
He was surrounded by friends, teammates and family Thursday as he signed a letter of intent with the Wildcats.
“It was really tough to decide,” Kerr said, noting he had visited four schools throughout the year.
“I just had to picture different things about each school to see what I wanted.”
The decisive factors were Baker’s success as a small Kansas school, plus its proximity to home.
Kerr’s father, Doug, was head coach for the Mustangs a decade ago until the family moved briefly to Baldwin, home of Baker University.
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The Kerrs returned to Iola when Ben was a sophomore.
“I’d lived there before, and going to Baker feels like I’m going home again,” he said. “And it’s a really great program.”
Kerr also had another decision, whether to focus on offense or defense.
(Spoiler alert: he’ll play linebacker at Baker.)
As a senior, Kerr led Iola in tackles, and served as a team leader in myriad ways.
When depth at the running back position forced a change, it was Kerr who stepped up at midseason.
He ended the 2023 campaign with a flourish, eclipsing the 100-yard mark in Iola’s last three games of the season.
“I’m probably a little late to try running back” at college, Kerr said. “I think I can be a better linebacker, and I can learn so much more.”