BYU lands California star back

PROVO — J.J. DiLuigi, the Southern California CIF Player of the Year, declared on Thursday he will sign to play his college ball at BYU following his senior year at Canyon High in Canyon Country, Calif.

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back scored 43 touchdowns last fall. He made his announcement Thursday in person, after driving all night with his father, John.

"This is something I wanted to do in person — not over the phone," DiLuigi said. "I respect this coaching staff and wanted to do it face-to-face. We left about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday when my dad finished work and drove all night. We got to Provo in the morning where I met with Bronco Mendenhall, Lance Reynolds and Barry Lamb."

DiLuigi and his father just finished a college football tour this month, visiting campuses and coaches at Wyoming, BYU, Utah, Boise State, Washington State and Oregon State. BYU offered DiLuigi a scholarship two months ago, while Wyoming offered a scholarship the first week of June upon his visit to Laramie.

DiLuigi said he fits into BYU's offense "perfectly" and he can see how Nate Meikle led the Cougars in receiving as a slot back, but that wasn't why he chose BYU. "I got back from visiting all those schools and mainly wanted to confirm my feelings that BYU was the place I wanted to play. I also wanted my father to see all these schools and understand what decisions I faced.

"The reason I chose BYU is because of the players I met. I hung out with them, and they made me feel part of the team, even though I hadn't decided to come there."

DiLuigi's appearance in Provo Thursday was his third. He attended BYU's Junior Day and saw the Blue and White game in LaVell Edwards Stadium in April.

"It came down to the players, and the coaching staff is phenomenal," DiLuigi said. "They are the kind of people you want to be around and at this time in my life, when I'm going to spend four years of my life here, they are the people I trust."

DiLuigi's 43 TDs included five catches and a kickoff return for a California prep record 99 yards. "It was actually 100 yards, but in California's record book, you can't have a 100-yard return, so it is 99.9 yards," he said.

DiLuigi's performance last year came against competition in the Foothill League, considered one of California's toughest high school football divisions (largest school enrollments).

His 43 touchdowns broke the Santa Clarita Valley All-Time scoring record of 41 set in 1994 by Ted Iacenda.

"He's a tough kid," Iacenda told the Santa Clarita Signal last fall. "He runs hard, he reads his blocks well and he doesn't go down. He fights for every inch. The one thing I love about him is he doesn't put the ball on the ground. That's the mark of a great back."

DiLuigi and his father plan on fishing at Strawberry Reservoir today before tackling the Provo River on float tubes. "We're kind of celebrating that this is all over," said DiLuigi.

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com