Havili opts for USC over BYU

Pete Carroll must be one heck of a dinner date.

A week after all but crossing Southern Cal off his list of colleges, Cottonwood's Stanley Havili broke bread with the Trojans' famed head coach and ended the evening's dinner with a pledge to play football at what is arguably the nation's premier college football program.

"When I woke up this morning I still didn't know where I was going, but when Pete Carroll showed up he sealed the deal," Havili said. "I am not going to redshirt. I'm going to play right away. If I'm not contributing on offense, I'll play special teams."

USC won a battle for Havili's talent over finalists BYU, Arizona State and Iowa. The Cougars, Havili said, couldn't compete with USC.

Havili, one of the most sought after high school running backs in the country, told the Deseret Morning News that would likely not serve an LDS Church mission.

Carroll, Havili said, wasn't willing to promise the talented back a scholarship would be waiting for him in three years if he did serve a mission.

Sunday's dinner and conversation at the Havili home, apparently, was enough for the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder to feel more secure in selecting the Trojans as his future team.

Havili is one of the biggest football prospects to play in Utah in several years. Playing on a talent-laden team at Cottonwood, Havili amassed 2,652 all-purpose yards as a running back, slot receiver and kick returner.

A two-time all state player with the Colts, Havili had scholarship offers from dozens of schools and had narrowed his choices to USC, Arizona State, BYU and Iowa. The Trojans, having won a pair of national championships before this year's runner-up season, were too good an opportunity to pass up.

Sunday's televised announcement may not have been necessary had USC been able to promise Havili he would have a scholarship waiting for him when he returned from a mission. Now, Havili said he would most likely not serve a mission. Instead, the Trojans, looking for immediate help in the backfield now that Reggie Bush and LynDale White have left school early to enter the NFL draft and Havili will be one of those replacements.

A week ago, it was Iowa coach Kirk Lafrenz making a visit to the Havili home while BYU and Arizona State have also had frequent contact with Havili. Havili said prior to meeting with Carroll Sunday, he was leaning towards committing to Arizona State.

Havili will be able to officially sign with the Trojans on the national letter of intent signing day on Feb. 1.

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E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com