Skip to content
San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears has committed to USC, where he will join for Tritons passed Sam Darnold.
San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears has committed to USC, where he will join for Tritons passed Sam Darnold.
Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

UPDATED STORY

Call it a change of direction that ended in a touchdown.

San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears, who committed to Duke in early August, switched his verbal pledge Sunday morning to USC.

“I went on my official visit last month to Duke. Following my return I just wasn’t feeling as excited as I should,” the senior said in a direct message Monday via Twitter.

“After a couple of weeks, I decided to sit down and reassess my commitment. At the end of the day, I decided that USC was where I really belonged.

“The tradition of the program in addition to the respect I have for Coach Helton made the final decision pretty clear cut. I can’t wait until early January to get on campus and officially be a member of the Trojan family.”

When Sears (6-3, 200) enroll early at USC in January, he will join former teammate Sam Darnold, now the Trojans’ starting quarterback as a freshman. Sears has passed for 1,660 yards and 24 TDs this season and rushed for 690 yards and seven TDs.

“I am fired up to be his teeammates again,” Sears said. “He has been somebody who I can talk to as we have travelled a similar path.”

Added San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz, “Jack has nothing but respect for Coach Cutcliffe and rhe Duke staff, but at the end of the day, he kept on thinking about USC and the opportunities there on and off the field.”

—-

San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears has decommitted from Duke and committed early Sunday morning to USC, the senior and Tritons football coach Jaime Ortiz confirmed Monday morning.

“I am excited about being a Trojan,” Sears said in a direct message via Twitter.

Sears, The Register’s No. 1-ranked player in its preseason Hot 150 list, committed to Duke in early August.

At USC, he will join former San Clemente quarterback and Register player/athlete of the year Sam Darnold, now starting for the Trojans. Darnold has passed for 2,161 yards and 22 TDs with six INTs, leading USC to resurgent season.

Sears has passed for 1,660 yards, 24 TDs and been intercepted only twice — both against Mission Viejo and heavy pressure two weeks ago. Sears also has rushed for 690 yards and seven TDs.

He and the Tritons bounced back from a 41-3 loss against Mission Viejo to defeat Chino Hills, 35-13, in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs last week.

The Tritons play at top-seeded Heritage (11-0) in the second round Friday.

Please send football recruiting news to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter