Colorado QB to visit west coast

One of the country's top signal callers this season is Austin Hinder (6-4, 185, 4.7) from Steamboat Springs, Colo. He has offers from schools across the country, including several from the west coast. Though he doesn't appear to be close to a decision, he is very interested in west coast teams and the Pac 10 in general.

"Right now, I'm pretty open regarding colleges," Hinder said. "I want to start visiting schools and I'm going to UCLA in the beginning of April.

"I will visit both Cal and Stanford in May when I attend the NIKE Camp in Palo Alto and the Elite 11 Camp," Hinder said. "I want to visit every school that has offered me. I also want to enjoy the recruiting process."

Besides Cal, Stanford and UCLA, Hinder has offers from most of the Pac 10, Alabama, Colorado, Colorado State, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Florida State, Purdue, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and more.

What is Hinder looking for in a college?

"Academics first because you can't play football forever," Hinder said. "Then location because you have to be able to enjoy where you're going to be living for the next four to five years.

"Team chemistry and the coaching staff is next," Hinder said. "You have to like who you are coached by and who you are playing with."

Hinder comes from outstanding football bloodlines. His grandfather, Jim Hanifin, coached in the NFL for 32 years and at one time he was the head coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Because Hinder has been around the game of football all his life, he has an advanced knowledge for the game. He can make all the throws and throws a really good deep ball. He's very technically sound and makes good decisions.

Hinder earned all-state (HM), first-team all-area and first-team all-league as a junior after throwing for 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's also a capable ball carrier, he rushed for 750 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Hinder is a member of the Rivals.com Rivals100 for the class of 2010 landing as the nation's No. 76 prospect at any position.