JC receiver Nick Kurtz, HS cornerback Michael Shelton sign with BYU

PROVO, Utah — BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall today announced wide receiver Nick Kurtz out of Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif., and defensive back Michael Shelton from Wakefield High School in Raleigh, N.C. have signed with BYU.

 

Both players plan to enroll at BYU in January. As a junior college player, Kurtz signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Cougars, while Shelton signed a scholarship agreement as a high school senior and mid-year enrollee.

 

"Nick and Michael are both great athletes and excellent football players,” Mendenhall said. “We look forward to having them join our program in January.”

 

One of the nation’s most sought-after JC players, Kurtz is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound receiver who attended Valhalla High School prior to two seasons at Grossmont College. The talented wideout comes to BYU as the fourth-rated receiver and No. 22 overall JC prospect in the country according to Rivals.com. Kurtz chose BYU among more than a dozen offers from programs including USC, Oregon and LSU. 

 

With 4.5 speed and exceptional size, Kurtz produced 1,301 yards and 18 touchdowns in 18 games for Grossmont’s passing attack the past two seasons. He recorded six multi-touchdown games, including two three-TD outings, while totaling more than 100 yards on four occasions, including a single-game high of 174 yards. The four-star prospect (Rivals.com) averaged nearly 15 yards per catch while amassing 87 receptions overall.  

 

A consistent performer, Kurtz totaled 10 scoring receptions as a freshman and added eight more during his sophomore campaign in 2013. The El Cajon, Calif., native contributed 67.1 receiving yards per game as a sophomore in 2013 to ranked No. 6 in the Southern California Football Association’s Southern Conference. He ranked No. 3 in 2012 with a 77.4 yards-per-game average. 

 

Kurtz will enter BYU as a junior with three years to complete his two remaining seasons of eligibility.  

 

Shelton is a 5-foot-8, 170-pound speedster who played both offense and defense at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, N.C. He played both receiver and cornerback on the football field while helping Wakefield earn an 11-2 record and advance into the state playoffs. 

 

Known for his physical play and athleticism, Shelton has recorded a 4.43 time in the 40-yard dash and a vertical leap of 38 inches. He made a team-high three interceptions on defense while adding 20 receptions for 277 yards on the offensive side of scrimmage in 2013. He averaged 13.9 yards per catch while scoring four touchdowns among his 20 catches. 

 

In addition to football, Shelton has earned national accolades applying his talents in track and field, where he achieved gold-medal status in the United States Track and Field Junior Olympic Championships in the 800-meter race.