For the past two years Mira Costa High's J.R. Tavai has been receiving recruiting letters from some of the best college football programs in the country.
It was no secret, nor was the Mustangs' defensive lineman who racked up a team-leading 95 tackles and 12 sacks during his senior season.
But Tavai tried to hide the letters, choosing instead to concentrate on becoming a leader and encouraging his younger teammates.
"J.R. would receive just stacks of letters from everyone, and he was so careful not to open them around other guys," said assistant coach Chuck Arrasmith. ''His teammates are so proud of him and they would have been excited to see all the letters, but he's the type of guy that doesn't want to attract extra attention."
The letters still will come, but Tavai on Friday made a non-binding oral commitment to USC during an in-home visit with Trojans' defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
