Though his grade 11 football season is very much still in its infancy, Swift Current Colts receiver Rhett Vavra has started out the 2019 campaign with eyes on him already.

College and university recruitment rules allow teams to contact prospects after September 1 of their junior year of high school.

Since the start of the month, the dynamic playmaker has received interest from several schools on both sides of the 49th parallel.

Vavra, who said he's keeping the names of the schools under wraps for the time-being, noted that his success with a pair of all-star teams has helped catch the attention of programs.

He was able to help U18 Team Sask capture their second-straight Canada Cup gold medal in July, and also has competed on the Sask Selects at the International Pigskin Classic in San Antonio, TX.

"I think U18 Team Sask really helped me out with just getting better. Also, it was my first year, so I have room to improve so I can go back there next year and do even better," Vavra said.

"I feel like both teams I still learn stuff from, but I think Selects is where I really learned the most from," he added. "The first year I actually tried out as a receiver, and didn't make it, so I was a defensive back. But I kept on persevering, and then the second year, I got (picked) at receiver, and I just took off from there."

"It's only been a few years now that I've been doing receiver - the Selects, Sask, and the Colts are all just improving me and helping me get better. I can take these things (from Selects and Team Sask) and bring them back to my team, so we can all get better."

Looking to get things rolling right from the jump this season, a revenge game opens the 2019 schedule for Vavra and the Colts.

After Moose Jaw Central ended the Colts' season last year in the league semi-finals, the two teams butt heads in Week 1 tomorrow afternoon.

"We've just got to be ready. I've heard that they already had an exhibition game against I think it was Battleford, so they're going to be ready for us," Vavra said. "If we just work hard, don't lose the mindset, I think we've got them. We're supposed to be the team that takes it this year."

Despite Vavra and the Colts' lofty expectations for themselves for the coming season, the receiver/returner said it's a matter of making it happen, and not just talking about it.

"We just need to not take that to the head, like 'oh we're the team to beat' - we don't need to worry about any of that. We need to stay focused, and take it game by game."

With an offensive approach forecasting a balanced dose of aerial attacks and ground-and-pound, the connection between Vavra and grade 11 quarterback Carter Moberg will be one to watch this season.

"He tried out at some Selects camps too, so we're all over the place just working with each other," Vavra said. "Even if it's just practicing, just us, or with the Colts, we really work on our connection - routes, timing, placement of the ball and stuff. I think that is going to be good this year."

The Colts host Moose Jaw Central at 1 p.m. from Colts Field.