Joel Klatt

Joel Klatt

Klatt (left) with Colorado Head Coach Gary Barnett in 2005
Colorado Buffaloes No. 14
Position	Quarterback
Career history
College	Colorado (2002–2005)
Bowl games	2002 Alamo Bowl 2005 Champs Sports Bowl
High school	Pomona High School (Arvada)
Personal information
Date of birth	(1982-02-04) February 4, 1982 (age 34)
Place of birth	Arvada, Colorado
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg)

Joel Klatt (born February 2, 1982) is a college football color commentator and analyst for Fox Sports 1. Klatt played college football for the University of Colorado (CU) Buffaloes. He was the first three-year starter at QB since Kordell Stewart ('92–'94). He also played minor-league baseball for two seasons.

Klatt was born in Arvada, Colorado. He was coached by his father, Gary Klatt, the head coach at Pomona High School in Arvada, Colorado. As a junior, he had 4 interceptions playing in the secondary, helping the team to a 9–3 record, and winning the Jefferson County league championship. As a senior at QB, he led the team to a 6–5 record and earned second-team all-state honors with a 78–125 passes (62.4%) for 1,250 yards and 16 touchdowns. He played primarily at shortstop in baseball, earning first-team all-state in his senior year and helped his team finish runner-up in the state tournament. He earned the following records at his school in baseball: HRs (40), RBIs (66), H (51), and SLG (1.226). He also set three summer school records: HRs (26), RBIs (99) and SLG (1.147). He also played basketball at guard. He was lettered in football, basketball, and baseball in all four years.

Klatt was drafted in the 11th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the San Diego Padres as a 3rd baseman. He played for the Arizona League Padres in Peoria, Arizona that summer where he led the team with 12 doubles and batted .209 with 6 HRs and 3 RBIs. In 2001, he was with Idaho Falls (2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 3 SB). In 2002 he told himself if he did not move up to high-A ball, he would give college football a try. After he reported for spring training with Eugene, he realized he would never make it in the Big Leagues. He then left the team and walked-on at the University of Colorado.

Klatt walked-on to Colorado as a QB in 2002. As a true freshman, he played in 3 games, mostly on the punt return team as a rusher/blocker against Missouri and Iowa State. Against Baylor, he went 0–3 passing. He is one of 4 true freshmen walk-ons to see action since 1986 for Colorado and was the Scout Team Offense Award Winner for the Colorado State game. The Buffs were Big 12 North Champions that season and played in the Alamo Bowl.