Indiana QB keeps family tradition alive

Columbus (Ind.) East quarterback Dustin Kiel has worked hard to keep his family's tradition alive. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound pro-style quarterback moved to the starting spot after 2006 when his brother, Drew, graduated and headed off to Illinois State.

Before that, his uncle Blair, started the tradition before heading off to Notre Dame. Then there was Kip Kiel, Blair's younger brother, who was a starter before playing his college ball at Butler University.

Dustin Kiel said he knows it's important to keep the family's success alive, but he doesn't feel any like it's something that's hard to do.

"No, I don't really feel any pressure," Kiel said. "I just enjoy the opportunity of playing. I think it has helped me by having my dad and uncles teach me and my brother and my cousins a lot about the game."

With offers on the table, Kiel has plenty of schools to consider. He's received offers from Indiana, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. Cincinnati has also been putting on the full-court press, even though UC hasn't offered yet.

Kiel said in the past that Cincinnati might be a tough offer to turn down. But does that mean they would jump to the top spot on his list if the offer comes?

"I don't know," he said. "I like the offense and the system they run. It's an attractive situation over there. But I wouldn't say the top but near the top. They would be one of the schools I would be looking. If I could go to my dream school, if Louisville offered me, or Tennessee it would be hard to turn them down it would be like a dream for me."

Kiel said the good news is that he feels he can play in about any type of offense that's out there.

"I think if I could fit in any system," Kiel said. "If they need a running quarterback I can do that. Or if I just need to sit in the pocket and throw the ball, I am OK with that."

As a junior, he throw for 2,591 yards on 158 of 262 throws for a 60-percent completion rate.