Mount Vernon senior Kellen Haverback announced on social media last week he had committed to play college football for the Drake Bulldogs.

“I liked the connections I made right away,” Haverback said. “It felt comfortable, it felt like home.”

Haverback liked how it was just two hours away and he liked the coaching staff. The Bulldogs have a first-year coach in Joe Woodley, who formally coached at Grand View.

Drake is an FCS school and part of the Pioneer League. They went 8-3 last season, making the FCS Playoffs and losing in the first round to Tarleton State.

As a junior Haverback passed for 2,285 yards on 64.1 percent passing (157 of 245) with 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also ran for 121 yards and 10 touchdowns.

A top-notch athlete, Haverback says Drake sees him as a quarterback at the next level.

He was getting interest from South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Sioux Falls, but liked the connections at Drake.

It helps they are a top academic school, too. Haverback plans on majoring in business, but wasn’t sure of the specifics, yet.

And Haverback has one more fall with the Mustangs. Mount Vernon went 10-2 last year and made the 3A semifinals in the UNI-Dome.

“We have big goals and I want to be 100 percent.”