Columbus East's Kiel chosen Indiana Mr. Football

INDIANAPOLIS | Columbus East quarterback Gunner Kiel is The Indianapolis Star's choice for Mr. Football in 2011.

As a senior, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Kiel led his team to a 12-2 record and a Class 4A semistate appearance, passing for 2,696 yards and 28 touchdowns while also rushing for 479 yards and 11 TDs.

"All the good stuff you hear about him is true," said Columbus East running back Andrew Wilson, a teammate of Kiel's since the seventh grade. "Everybody looks up to him and when something needs to be said, he'll say it."

Kiel received 29 of the 48 votes cast for the state's highest individual honor in the sport as selected by the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Warren Central defensive tackle Sheldon Day was the runner-up with nine votes. Lafayette Central Catholic two-way standout Danny Anthrop was third with eight votes.

Kiel had committed to attend Indiana but in October, about 10 weeks after his original decision, decided to re-open his recruitment. The Star said he's now likely to attend one of four schools: LSU, Notre Dame, USC or Vanderbilt.

The Star said Kiel will graduate early from Columbus East and enroll in one of those schools in January.

"I'll make a decision soon," Kiel said. "I kind of have to."