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Change of plans for Chris Helbig

The owner of the Colorado prep record for most passing yards in a game has decided he will join the Buffaloes' as a preferred walk-on this summer. Holy Family's Chris Helbig initially accepted an offer to play basketball at Colorado Christian, but after further discussion with his family, he changed his mind.

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“The question was, where would I want to go to school if I didn't have an opportunity to play sports anymore? Ever since I was little going up to CU Buff football games, I just fell in love with the school and the culture,” Chris Helbig explained. “I knew at the end of the day, CU is where I could see myself getting an education at, not just sports.

“Also, actually having to try to give up football is just something that I couldn't do. It is going to be hard to give up basketball, but still being able to go shoot hoops with friends, you can always have that chance. But there is never another chance for you to suit up and play organized football, especially at somewhere like CU. Finally getting things figured out was just great for me. It is like a big ole' sigh of relief. I am excited.”

Helbig turned down an offer to play both football and basketball at Fort Hays State, and he also turned down football opportunities at Northern Colorado and CSU-Pueblo.

Defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat recruited Helbig from the Buffs' staff after Toby Neinas was let go. When Helbig informed Jeffcoat he planned to join Colorado's program as a preferred walk-on this summer, the news was met with excitement. Helbig expects to go in and compete at quarterback but he is open to playing other positions if it does not work out for him there. He has played wide receiver and defensive back in the past.

"Obviously going in as a preferred walk-on, you have to work that much harder than the offer kids to just prove you are worthy of being in such a strong program like CU," Helbig said. "So going in there, I am going to have to work that much harder than everybody else. People see me just as a quarterback but I didn't play quarterback until my junior year so I have the ability to play another position and compete.

"If there is a chance to get on the field, wherever it is, I will take that in a heartbeat. I just have a love for the game. If I am just finding time on special teams, no one will ever hear a complaint out of me. I will be out there and be happy to do anything. It is not about the position, it is about the opportunity to be able to run out onto Folsom Field."

Helbig set a new state record when he threw for 607 yards against Mountain View in September.
Helbig set a new state record when he threw for 607 yards against Mountain View in September.

Before suffering torn knee ligaments nine games into his senior season, Helbig had thrown for 6,634 yards and 72 touchdowns with just 16 interceptions as a prep upperclassman. He hopes to be fully recovered from his knee injury by June.

"Since surgery on my knee, I have gained 16 pounds," said Helbig, who now stands 6-foot-4, 189-pounds. "I am missing basketball season, and that stinks, so I am trying to make the best of it. I had always been jumping from football straight into basketball and then into baseball so I hadn't had an opportunity to get in the weight room until I got hurt. Being able to focus on lifting and gaining good weight has been good for me."

Helbig prides himself on his ability to read defenses and his playmaking skills.

"I have the ability to make something out of of nothing," he said. "I am said to have pretty good football IQ so that is something I will bring to the table when I get to CU."

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