Kavinega adds icing to USCs class of 2008

Uona Kavienga has put an end to his recruitment with a commitment to the University of Southern California.

After early verbal commitments to the University of California, Los Angeles and then Brigham Young University, the 6-foot-1 and 225-pound linebacker from local Leuzinger High School eventually decided that he wanted to be a Trojan.

"This last month has been very hectic, very busy, a lot of phone calls and a lot of trips and (there have been) a lot of people trying to persuade me which direction to go," Kavienga said during his appearance on Fox Sports. "Last Saturday was my birthday and I turned 18, and my parents turned to me and said it was all up to me.

"The school I'll be attending in the fall will be USC."

USC's dominance as a football powerhouse was ultimately the selling point for Kavienga.

"Football-wise it wasn't that hard," he said about choosing USC. "Everybody knows USC is the best college ball in town. I asked my parents if they would support me if I chose USC and they said they would fully support me...and it's up to me.

"And that was all."

After initially being offered as a fullback by the Trojans, Kavienga finally took his official visit to USC after head coach Pete Carroll confirmed with Kavienga that he would be playing defense for the Trojans, in spite of his family's wishes.

"Everybody in my family wants me to go to BYU, especially my parents," said an emotional Kavienga.

Many had speculated that Kavienga's Mormon faith would lead him to honor his verbal commitment to BYU and take his mission right after high school. But with a commitment to the Trojans, Kavienga appears to be focusing strongly on making an immediate impact on the football field and then serve his mission.

"I plan on serving a mission and plan on leaving after my freshman year of college," Kavienga, who might be the most underrated prospect on the west coast, said. "Pete Carroll has told me that I'm allowed to go serve my mission and I'm happy...about that."

Trojan fans may be disappointed with misses from some of the top out of state recruits at linebacker, but, quite frankly, Kavienga is the ideal linebacker for USC.

He has a combination of smarts, physicality, speed and good character and those traits have allowed USC to thrive in recent years.

USCFootball.com will have more from Uona Kavienga's commitment later.