Salpointe’s senior tight end Fernando Torres became the 19th local Class of 2021 prospect to make a commitment to a college, announcing tonight that he will play at St. Olaf, an NCAA Division III program in Northfield, Minn.
St. Olaf was the first program to offer a scholarship to Torres, a 6-foot-2 and 225-pound target for Treyson Bourguet last season.
“I’d say that you can tell a lot about a place the first time you’re there, when you leave you begin to take in what you witness and develop an opinion on that place,” Torres said about his recent visit to St. Olaf. “It just felt right. It may seem kind of vague but it was really both a gut and heart feeling.
“From the conversations with the recruiting coordinator, coach Joe Troche, since last March up until this day and even on the visit, what he had explained to me about St. Olaf through text was really true in real life.”
During his visit, Torres also talked with St. Olaf coach James Kilian.
“It really gave both of us a great sense of who I am and what St. Olaf is all about,” Torres said. “These factors really drove my decision, I understand that football does not last forever, so I needed to consider how well St. Olaf could set me up for life after college.
“Based on how many resources are provided by the school for strictly post-graduation, from the strong connections between alumni, the campus was quite breath-taking and different.”
COMMITTED!!! Happy Late Birthday Apa ! 🤍 I know you’re smiling down knowing I am living through and for you! I love you mucho mucho Pa hasta el fin. 🤍 With that being said, I am blessed to announce that I am committed to St. Olaf College 🖤💛(1/4) pic.twitter.com/Mh5kXhtg6H
— 2021 Fernando Torres TE 6’2 225 (@2021FernandoT) January 24, 2021
Torres added, “It’s a whole new world for a kid from South Tucson.”
“Honestly, it just felt the best to find a place that I will be calling home and it means a whole lot to me because I know how proud my father would be knowing I am going to college to study and play football.”
In a tweet announcing his commitment, Torres wrote of his late dad, “Happy Late Birthday Apa! I know you’re smiling down knowing I am living through and for you!”
Torres is the 76th local Class of 2021 player to be offered a scholarship.
Here is a list of the 19 local players who have committed or signed:
- Former Salpointe OT Jonah Miller on May 18 to Oregon. He is forgoing his final season in high school and plans to attend Oregon in the spring. He signed on Dec. 16.
- CDO RB Stevie Rocker on July 16 to Arizona. He signed on Dec. 16.
- CDO DE/LB Chase Randall on Sept. 2 to Sioux Falls.
- Ironwood Ridge QB Chase Cassel on Sept. 23 to St. Norbert.
- Nogales LB Rene R. Urias Jr. on Oct. 1 to Grinnell
- Cienega QB Ryan Swoger on Oct. 23 to South Dakota State. He signed on Dec. 16.
- Walden Grove LB Sebastian Adamski on Nov. 16 to Drake. He signed on Dec. 16.
- Cienega C Andrew Husfelt on Nov. 19 to Washburn.
- Ironwood Ridge FS Dylan Cook on Nov. 24 to Morehead State
- Walden Grove WR Alex Culbertson on Nov. 24 to Simpson
- Catalina Foothills TE Garrick Krautz on Dec. 9 to Morehead State.
- Cienega SS Sebastian Felix on Dec. 16 to Drake.
- Cienega LB Isaiah Webb on Dec. 18 to Western New Mexico.
- Cienega DT Hunter Schlagel on Dec. 18 to Western New Mexico.
- Buena OT Dominc Avant on Jan. 19 to Sioux Falls.
- Pusch Ridge RB/DB Evan Lovett on Jan. 19 to Minot (N.D.) State
- Cienega WR/DB Charles Hamm III on Jan. 19 to Jamestown.
- Buena RB Isaac Benoit on Jan. 20 to Sioux Falls
- Salpointe TE Fernando Torres on Jan. 22 to St. Olaf
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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