RECRUITING: Gorman linebacker Palelei orally commits to Stanford

Already entertaining thoughts of a Class 4A state football title next season, Bishop Gorman linebacker Evan Palelei didn’t want the recruiting process to linger as a distraction.

So after an unofficial visit to Stanford, the senior-to-be gave an oral commitment to Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh on Saturday.
Palelei chose Stanford over offers from Colorado and UNLV. He won’t be able to sign until Feb. 3.

“It’s a great relief,” Palelei said Monday of his commitment. “Now I can really just focus on playing one more season. I fully expect us to win state next year.”

Palelei said he was drawn to the Cardinal not only to play in the Pac-10 but also for the school’s “cooperation between the athletic program and the academic program.”

“Stanford has a great (football) program, and it’s a great school overall,” he said. “It’s the full package.”

The 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound Palelei had 43 tackles and two sacks in 2008, helping the Gaels finish 12-2 overall and 7-0 in the Southwest League.

Palelei said Stanford envisions him as a strong-side linebacker.

“My size and length at the line of scrimmage really helps,” Palelei said. “One thing I would like to work on is strength, getting bigger and stronger so I can compete on a collegiate level.”

Rivals.com ranks Palelei the No. 9 senior-to-be in Nevada.

He is one of at least five Gaels drawing major recruiting interest, along with tight end Xavier Grimble, receiver Taylor Spencer, defensive end Alex Turner and offensive lineman Geoffrey Gibson.

Palelei is the son of former UNLV offensive lineman Lonnie Palelei, who played for four NFL teams between 1993 and 1999.