Ivy League institutions pursuing 2021 Cleveland defensive back

2021 Cleveland (Rio Rancho) Storm standout defensive back [player_tooltip player_id="26163" first="Trey" last="Ortega"] is confirmation of what happens in recruiting when excellence on the football field combines effortlessly with academic acumen in the classroom. The son of a Brown University graduate (and former football player there), Ortega is one of the top high school football players in New Mexico (No. 11 on our 2021 prospect ranking) and a 4.0 student to boot. As a result, Ivy League schools are pursuing Ortega. Cornell and Columbia have already offered, while Yale, Princeton and Brown have expressed interest in the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder who was a key component of Cleveland’s Class 6A state championship team a season ago. Columbia, situated in New York City, offered on Tuesday, offering Ortega another opportunity to play college football and earn a world-class education. “I was ecstatic when I got the call (from Columbia),” Ortega told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “It was truly a blessing. I am very interested in playing at an Ivy League School. My dad played at Brown University and it set him up for life. Nothing but positives out of taking that route.” Ortega holds 11 offers, possibly the most of any rising senior football prospect in New Mexico. Besides the aforementioned Ivy League schools, another FCS school, Lamar, offered yesterday. An assortment of Div. II, Div. III and NAIA schools - Eastern New Mexico, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Western New Mexico, Culver Stockton College, Valparaiso, Washburn, Occidental and Northern State - have offered Ortega as well. Army, Eastern Washington and Butler have expressed interest. Five months from the start of the early signing period, Ortega says he hasn’t ruled anybody out. “I have not yet cut any schools out of my recruitment,” said Ortega, who collected 28 tackles and one interception for the championship banner hanging Storm in 2019. “I am being as patient as possible with making my decision. “I would describe myself as a hard worker. I try my best to learn as many positions on the field so when my number is called, I can step up and help the team to the best of my ability.” https://twitter.com/O12Trey/status/1288211483608756224 https://twitter.com/O12Trey/status/1258098243784699906 https://twitter.com/O12Trey/status/1287132369359527936