Jace Ruder of Norton gets looks despite being five hour drive from Denver or Kansas City.
Video: Jace Ruder ultimate highlightsSee the three-star QB dissect defenses.Jace Ruder is one of the best athletes in America that might never heard of — which is probably because he's from the middle of nowhere.
The 3-star quarterback hails from
Norton (Kan.), a tiny town of about 3,000 people, according to the 2010 census, that's five hours from both Denver and Kansas City. If a college coach flies into Hays, Kan., there's still a 90-minute commute to reach the hidden gem, not to mention a 30 to 45-minute stretch of no houses or cell service,
according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.
Ruder got his name on the radar by racking up 2,344 total yards and 30 touchdowns last fall while leading the Bluejays to the second round of the Kansas Class 3A state playoffs. The nation's 17th-ranked senior gunslinger already holds offers from high-profile programs such as Baylor, Florida State, Georgia and North Carolina. He also runs a blazing 4.45 40-yard dash to go along with his ideal 6-foot-3 frame.
He posted 12.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game on the hardwood for the 21-3 Bluejays, and also captured a state title in the 300-meter hurdles in the spring.
Ruder is pegged for UNC, according to 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions.
Jace Ruder, Norton
File Photo by Norman Tackett
