For most high school athletes moving on to the next level, choosing a college can be a difficult decision when coaches come calling.

For Marshfield's Kyle Tedder, he had to choose not only what college to attend, but also which sport he would play — football or basketball.

The standout athlete sided with basketball, and signed a letter of intent with Southern Oregon University on Tuesday afternoon in Pirate Palace.

It wasn't an easy decision, though, with a walk-on roster spot waiting for him on Oregon State University's football team.

'Southern coach (Brian) McDermott really invested the most interest in me," Tedder said. 'Other schools did as well. They pushed too soon. … I wasn't ready for it."

Linfield College also showed interest in Tedder for football, and Western Oregon University recruited him for basketball.

'It's been a good problem to have," he said. 'But it's been stressful."

His mother, Nancy Tedder, said she and her husband Ken didn't help him make a decision other than to lend him a set of ears.

'We firmly believed that he had to make his own decision," Nancy said. 'Because he has to live with it."

Tedder listened to his heart, and he said he'd rather spend his college days practicing in a gym than practicing on a field.

'My first love is basketball," he said. 'I love football as well, it's just not the same."

McDermott was happy Tedder chose basketball.

'He was our No. 1 guy. It's a little scary when you put all your eggs in one basket," McDermott said, adding that it's often difficult to recruit when players are choosing between schools, and, in the case of Tedder, sports.

But McDermott was sure Tedder was worth recruiting — he made multiple trips to see the Pirates play this season and was convinced of his abilities.

McDermott said Tedder's expertise in both football and basketball is what stood out — as a quarterback and a point guard, he has a flair for leadership.

'He's what we call a combo guard," McDermott said of his ability to rack up both points and assists. 'To know that you have that for four years is nice."

And Marshfield coach Jesse Ainsworth, who knows Tedder's leadership abilities well, thinks he'll excel at the next level, and can't wait to watch a few games.

'It's bittersweet," Ainsworth said. 'You hate to see him go. For me, I'm so proud of the fact that he's moving on."

'I told him, 'Now you can put value on all that hard work,'" he said.

His hard work may pay off soon. Though McDermott isn't certain of Tedder's role on the team, he doesn't see Tedder as a red-shirt option.

'I think he's going to be ready to be a big contributor right away," McDermott said.

Nancy is excited that he'll be close enough to watch some of his games, though she's prepared for him to leave the nest.

'Both our kids we raised to be ready to go," she said. 'And he's ready."

Tedder said he is ready for the challenges college will bring, though he's still uncertain of his major — either criminal justice or education. He said his goal is to 'graduate, above all," but he'll be having fun along the way.

'It's a cool place," he said of the campus. 'It's different for me, for my personality. I've lived in Coos Bay my whole life, grown up in the same house. But I'm excited."