RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University head football coach Roy Kidd has announced that Jon Denton, starting quarterback for the University of Nevada-Las Vegas for the past two seasons, has signed to play football for the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels.

Denton, 6-3, 210 junior, and a native of Henderson, NV, has thrown for 6,177 yards and 43 TD's, in his two seasons with UNLV and holds 10 NCAA passing records. He was selected as the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 1996.

"We are elated that Jon has decided to join our program," said EKU's Kidd. "Jon can definitely throw the football, but he can also hurt you running the ball. He is also a very enthusiastic player on the field and I like that.

"Our depth at quarterback was in question since spring practice closed because our junior college kid (junior Chad Collins) had shoulder surgery in May and his availability is in doubt for the fall. Also, one of our top recruits (freshman signal-caller Denard Parks of North Miami Beach, FL) was unable to meet his academic requirements to play and was going to have to sit out the 1998 season.

"That meant Waylon (Chapman, sophomore quarterback from Breathitt County High School) was our only healthy, ready-to-go quarterback, so we needed help and believe me this young man will help our football team.

"He's going to have to win the starting position. We had John Sacca (former Penn State quarterback) come in 1994 and Tommy Luginbill (former Georgia Tech QB) in 1995 and nothing was handed to them. They came in with a good attitude and won the starting nod. He understands that and is ready to compete."

After a fabulous freshman season that saw him set 10 NCAA passing marks and 11 other school records, Denton followed that season with a sophomore year of hitting 199-374 passes for 2,586 yards and 18 touchdowns. His collegiate career marks show him hitting 476-880 passes for 6,177 yards and 43 touchdowns.

He closed his two-year UNLV career with a string of 19 consecutive games in which he threw at least one TD pass. His top game was against San Diego State in 1996 when he hit 27-53 passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns. His 25 TD passes as a freshman broke the NCAA freshman record set by Florida's Danny Wuerffel in 1993.

He is rated by ESPN's National Football League analyst, college scouting expert and NFL draft guru, Mel Kiper, Jr., as the nation's No. 3 junior quarterback behind the University of Kentucky's Tim Couch and the University of Washington's Brock Huard.

Denton has two years of eligibility remaining and reports for practice at EKU, Tuesday, Aug. 11.