Dolphins' Creer Signs with Colorado

It's official.

will be taking his talent to Division I college football.

Palisades High's 5' 11," 200-pound senior running back signed a national letter of intent with the University of Colorado at lunch Wednesday during a brief ceremony in the large gym. 

Creer kept the gathering of classmates, teammates, faculty and parents in suspense as he talked about the recruiting process. He took off one shirt after another, only to reveal another from a different school in its place, until he finally got to the one underneath--that of the Buffaloes' black and gold.

"I made my final decision last night with my family," confessed Creer, whose mother Donna Jones sat beside him as he signed on the dotted line. "Washington called last night to offer me a scholarship and they wanted me to postpone my announcement, but this is where I was set on going."

In addition to Colorado and Washington, Creer was offered scolarships to Idaho State, Nebraska, South Dakota and Eastern Washington. Interest in him really took off after his YouTube highlight video was posted, featuring him juking, cartwheeling and stiff-arming would-be defenders on his way to the end zone.

Creer rushed for 1,270 yards and 19 touchdowns and averaged 10.58 yards per carry for the Dolphins last fall. He also caught four passes for 93 yards and o defense he made 34 tackles and intercepted three passes, one of which he returned 108 yards against Lynwood.

Palisades' first-year head coach is confident Creer will flourish at the next level.

"Without a doubt he'll succeed," said Jones, who led the Dolphins to a winning season and their first playoff victory since 2000. "It'll take him an adjustment period, sure, but he'll be a good collegiate player because his confidence matches his ability. He's tough to tackle, he has soft hands, he blocks on the edge, he runs good routs--he can do it all."

Creer has had Colorado on the top of his list ever since his official visit to the Boulder campus and when he met the coaches over winter break Creer was convinced he would fit in to new head coach Jon Embree's West Coast offense.    

"I think the overall team's success, coupled with Malcolm's stats week after week got people talking," Jones said. "New Mexico State sent someone to practice the week of the Poly [playoff] game and the buzz about him built from there."

With Colorado joining the Pac-10 Conference, Creer will have an opportunity to play in front of his friends and family, although he said that added perk didn't factor into his decision.

"No, I didn't really care about that, " said Creer, who also plays for the Dolphins' varsity basketball team. "It really was about the coaches, feeling this is the right path for me. I can't wait to get there and get to work."

Fellow senior and running back was on hand to congratulate Creer and offer his encouragement: "He's doing it big. Any decision he makes I'm going to support him. It felt good to know we relied on each other. I had his back and he had my back."