Long personal odyssey comes full circle for Kansas State's Quarles

Grandview High product learns he can go home again

By Paul Willis, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 16, 2008 at 8:56 p.m.

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Photo by Dave Einsel / Associated Press

Kansas State receiver Aubrey Quarles attended Grandview High School and will be coming home Saturday, when the Wildcats play Colorado at Folsom Field.

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Aubrey Quarles didn't figure it would take three years for him to return to his home state for a football game, but after a meandering path that has been part success, part heartbreak, the Kansas State receiver will do so Saturday.

He'll finally get his chance to take on the University of Colorado (5 p.m., FSN), where his brother Clyde Surrell used to play, his buddy and former high school quarterback Ryan Walters (now a safety) still does, and he will make the visit as the Wildcats' leader in all-purpose yards.

"I've got a lot of family and close friends coming," Quarles said. "And this week, I've been trying to find my little league coach and position coach and get them to come, too."

Quarles was a highly touted receiver from Grandview High School, but larger schools shied away when he missed the first six games of his senior season because of academic issues.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder instead went to Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College, where he simply tore it up.

He caught 67 passes for 1,054 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman, then was on pace to trump those marks last season, when he made 28 receptions in the first four games.

But in that fourth game, Quarles tripped over a defensive back and landed awkwardly on a shoulder. It resulted in a broken collarbone that ended his season and threw into doubt his prospects of signing with a BCS school for his final two seasons.

"Anytime an injury happens, you have a little doubt," Quarles said. "But my coaches told me to stay focused in the classroom and just let things fall into place. Luckily, Kansas State stayed with me the whole time."

Perhaps it's not surprising Kansas State kept its eyes on Quarles. The Wildcats have become known for nabbing junior college prospects, including 15 of 26 signees in 2008.

Quarles has rewarded the Wildcats' faith by becoming their primary kickoff returner while chipping in 28 catches for 322 yards, second most on the team.

"K-State always has been big on junior college players, but that's not what swayed my decision," Quarles said. "When I came out here for my visit, I felt a connection and I liked the coach, Ron Prince. And also playing with a pro-style quarterback like Josh Freeman, you can't get that everywhere."

Walters seemed just as ecstatic Quarles was coming to Boulder, saying, "I'm just going to go out there and try to bully him around like I did in high school.

"It's good to see him doing well," Walters added. "I actually talked with him on the phone (Tuesday). It's fun to play against one of your good friends. In high school, he actually lived with me for a couple months and we're still pretty close."

Surrell, Quarles' brother, was one of the central figures in CU's recruiting scandal earlier this decade, but that doesn't mean Surrell will root for his brother.

"He always says he's on my side, but when it comes to CU, his alma mater, he says he'll have to go against me," Quarles said.

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