It will be “Hello Northern California” for Nate Herbig next fall.
Saint Louis’ 6-foot-4, 320-pound offensive lineman made an oral commitment to accept a football scholarship to Stanford on Thursday. He made the announcement on a taped segment with sportscasters Rob DeMello and Sam Spangler on KHON-2 TV on the 6 p.m. news.
Herbig also texted his choice of the Cardinal to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii Prep World at 5:34 p.m., with the stipulation that the information would not be posted until after the TV news segment.
Eight other Division I FBS colleges offered a scholarship to Herbig, who said his commitment is solid.
Herbig is looking forward to his senior season after the team’s campaign in 2014 that came up just short in the ILH championship game to Punahou.
“We came close to beating (eventual state Division I champion Mililani (in a nonleague, early season game) and came a TD (35-28) away from beating Punahou (in the ILH title contest) in a game we could have won. They made the plays when it counted.
“I’m coming into my senior year with a chip (on my shoulder). No player wants to lose in his senior year.”
There’s lots of speculation that Saint Louis will improve on last season’s 6-4 record, with star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa entering his junior year and receiver Drew Kobayashi — who committed to Cal recently — ready for his senior season.
As a sophomore, Herbig, who is from the town of Kalaheo on Kauai, played for Kauai High School before transferring to the Crusaders.
Herbig recalls Red Raiders assistants Mario Longboy and Stacy Iwasaki as being instrumental in helping him achieve his goals.
“They told me that no dreams are unattainable,” he said.
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