Cougar Corner Blog
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Recruit Bio
Welcome to the first part of our look at Recruits. We're starting with J.J. Di Luigi, who may have the most immediate impact.
According to byucougars.comJ.J. Di Luigi
In high school Di Luigi rushed for more than 4000 yards while scoring over 80 touchdowns. He also was named MVP after leading his team to a victory in the California State Championship game.
5-9, 188, RB
Canyon Country, CA (Canyon HS)
Under the direction of head coach Harry Welch, helped lead Canyon HS to the California State Championship with a 27-13 victory over De La Salle ... named the CIF Division I State Championship MVP after racking up 138 yards on 21 carries ... named the Foothill League Player of the Year ... named The Signal-All Santa Clarita Valley Player of the Year as a junior and senior ... earned CIF Southern Section Offensive Player-of-the-Year honors as a junior and senior ... named to several high school All-America teams ... named the Old Spice/Red Zone California Player of the Year ... was named a first-team All-State running back by The Los Angeles Daily News and The Los Angles Times ... rushed for 2,159 yards on 266 carries as a senior ... averaged 154.2 yards per game ... scored 34 touchdowns on the season ... had 29 receptions for 390 yards and four touchdown receptions ... ran for a season-high 282 yards in the Cougars' 49-32 win over Chaminade ... ran for over 200 yards three different times during the season ... recruited by Colorado, Colorado State, Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State.
In June 2006, Di Luigi and his father drove 10 hours to Provo, Ut. in order to look Coach Bronco Mendenhall in the eye and verbally commit to being a BYU Cougar. J.J. said, “I wanted to show Coach Mendenhall my level of trust and that he had my word. I wouldn’t just drive out there and spend 10 hours in car just to change my mind later. I wanted him to know my word was set in stone.”
In fact, after his record setting senior year several other schools suddenly became interested, but by then J.J. was firmly a Cougar in heart and mind.
J.J. who isn't LDS doesn't see any cultural or religious problems to attending BYU, he says, "I have no problem with the Honor Code,” he said. “I already don’t do those things, so it’s easy for me. I’ve had my sights set on things higher and I don’t have time for doing that stuff, anyway.”
This video is from the State Championship game and can be found on YouTube.com
This video is courtesy of byucougars.com and can be seen by clicking here.
Labels: 2007 Recruiting, J.J. Di Luigi
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posted by Chad @ 2:02 PM
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Cougars land new recruits
February 7th, Letter of Intent day. The day when all the jockeying for position finally comes to an end and recruited players actually sign on to play for a particular school.
BYU did well, ranking as the #1 non-BCS school.
Here's who BYU landed2007 Football Signees
Name HT WT POS HOMETOWN (Last School)
Famika Anae 6-5 260 OL Provo, Utah (Timpview HS)
David Angilau 6-2 255 DL Longmont, CO (Niwot HS)
Tyler Beck 6-1 205 LB Murrieta, CA (Vista Murrieta HS)
Brannon Brooks 5-10 175 DB Elk Grove, CA (Elk Grove HS)
Braden Brown 6-6 230 TE Salt Lake City, UT (Highland HS)
J.J. Di Luigi 5-9 188 RB Canyon Country, CA (Canyon HS)
Scotty Ebert 6-0 185 WR Sandy, UT (Jordan HS)
Kaneakua Friel 6-4 220 TE Honolulu, HI (Kamehameha HS)
Austen Jorgensen 6-3 210 LB Mt. Pleasant, UT (North Sanpete HS)
Ryan Kessman 6-0 190 WR San Jacinto, CA (San Jacinto HS)
Aveni Leung Wai 6-1 220 LB Aiea, HI (Grossmont JC)
Star Lotulelei 6-3 245 DL South Jordan, UT (Bingham HS)
Levi Mack 6-5 315 OL Thatcher, AZ (Eastern Arizona JC)
Devin Mahina 6-6 225 TE Upland, CA (Upland HS)
Eathyn Manumaleuna 6-2 269 OL Provo, UT (Timpview HS)
Marcus Mathews 6-4 200 WR Beaverton, OR (Southridge HS)
Jason Munns 6-5 225 QB Kennewick, WA (Southridge HS)
Gary Nagy 6-1 175 S Kahuku, HI (Kahuku HS)
Jordan Pendleton 6-2 195 S South Jordan, UT (Bingham HS)
G Pittman 5-9 175 DB Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Rancho Cucamonga HS)
Houston Reynolds 6-2 295 OL Provo, UT (Timpview HS)
Jordan Smith 6-4 200 WR Spanish Fork, UT (Spanish Fork HS)
Steven Thomas 5-11 180 S Chino Hills, CA (Chino Hills HS)
Manaaki Vaitai 6-3 299 OL Euless, TX (Trinity HS)
A very good class, with several difference makers expected to step in right away.
Labels: 2007 Recruiting, Football
posted by Chad @ 1:56 PM
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