All-state Cottonwood running back Isi Sofele will take his speed and skills to the University of California.
"I was kind of surprised," said Sofele of his decision to commit during a recruiting visit this past weekend. "When I went out there, it was all just positive."
Sofele helped the Colts to a second-place finish in the 4A playoffs this year. He rushed for 1,916 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was offered scholarships by several other Pac-10 schools, as well as Utah, but said once he got on Cal's campus, his decision was easy.
"First of all, their coaches are close to their players," Sofele said. "Their academics are ranked very high, and the facilities were very nice. ... We spent a lot of time with the coaches and players, and I noticed they all got along very well. They're the real deal."
He said coaches told him he could play as a freshman and they have plans to use him as a running back and as a punt and kick returner.
"It depends on summer camp," he said.
Sofele might have surprised himself with the decision to commit, but it didn't surprise his high school coach.
"I kind of had a feeling that if they were serious, if it was what he expected, he'd commit," said Colts head coach Cecil Thomas. "It's such a great fit for him, what they do offensively. He just fits into their system really well."
Sofele said it's always been a dream of his to play in the Pac-10, and the full-ride scholarship offer from Cal's head coach Jeff Tedford last week was tempting even before Sofele traveled to California.
"They are an upper-tier Pac-10 team," said Thomas. "He knows, if you go to Cal, you've got a chance to win a championship every year."
At 5-foot-8 (and three fourths) and 175 pounds, there were plenty of people who wondered if Sofele would get the chance to compete at the highest level of college football.
Sofele, however, said his dream of playing Division I football was never deterred by doubters. In fact, at times those nay-sayers strengthened his resolve.
"I kind of had my mind set to be in this position," he said. "Every time someone would say something like. 'You're too small; you're not going to play D1 football,' it just made me work harder. I've heard that plenty of times."
He credits his parents and his prep coaches for preparing him physically and mentally for college football opportunities.
"My coaches were always nothing but positive with me," he said. "Especially, coach Thomas and Scott (Cate) and my dad (Hui Sofele)."
His parents, Hui and Langi Sofele, traveled with him to the Berkeley area and spent the weekend touring the campus, attending dinners with coaches and even attending a men's basketball game.
"They were very excited," Sofele said of how his parents reacted to his decision to commit. "They were shocked. I'm a little shocked."
Thomas said he has no doubt Sofele will be successful at a school like Cal.
"He'll be a player wherever he goes," said Thomas. "I'm just excited to watch him play."
Other recruiting news
Highland defensive lineman Latu Hemuli escaped the cold a couple weeks ago when Florida coaches invited him for a campus visit.
"They called him and asked him to save his last trip for them," said Highland head coach Brody Benson. "They offered him (a scholarship) three days later."
Hemuli was impressed with what he saw, but he doesn't plan to make a decision until after the first of the year.
"He'd like to at least narrow it down," said Benson. "He has coaches calling him every day."
The all-state lineman visited Washington State, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona and Florida. But he's had visits from those schools, as well as Oregon State, Cal, Utah and BYU.
"He's kind of getting bombarded," Benson said. "A lot of schools have done a great job recruiting him."
And while the process can be stressful, Benson said Hemuli is just trying to enjoy the ride. Like most prep recruits he gets plenty of opinions from friends and family.
"Everybody lets him know what they think," Benson said. "I just try to stay neutral and support him. It's his decision, and I want him to go where he feels most comfortable."
Sofele's teammate John Martinez canceled his last two campus visits, one of which was supposed to be to Arkansas, a school that is recruiting his brother, Keni Kaufusi.
He said he's narrowed his list to three schools — USC, UCLA and LSU.
"It's getting a little overwhelming," he said. "In one night I had eight calls in a row. ... It's cool, but I'm getting tired."
The all-state offensive lineman just returned from an all-star game in Hawaii, which Sofele, Cottonwood lineman Percy Taumoelau, and Timpview's Levi Te'o and Xavier Su'a-Filo participated in, as well. He leaves Jan. 30 for the Under Armour All-American game. Thomas will be an assistant coach for the game, which airs live on ESPN at 6 p.m. (MST) on Jan. 4.
Timpview's Xavier Su'a-Filo's road trip last weekend was a lot closer to home — Utah. It was the 4A MVP's third campus visit as he's already traveled to LSU and USC.
"He really hasn't said too much," said his father, Ifi Su'a-Filo, admitting his son is sometimes overwhelmed by the attention from coaches and the media. "Yeah, he's kind of tired. He's changed his phone number, and he's really trying to get some other things done."
An honor student with four AP classes, Su'a-Filo just completed his Eagle Scout project last week.
"He's pretty tired," his father said. "And he's heading to the Under Armour All-star game next week."
After he returns home, the offensive lineman plans to travel to BYU weekend, which is Jan. 9, and then use his final visit to UCLA on Jan. 16.
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com