Elijah Lugo Makes His Commitment

Great news out of the south Sound where Graham (Wash.) Kapowsin OL Elijah Lugo verbally committed to the United States Naval Academy.

“I believe that Navy I best fit for me in my opinion for both football and my academics,” Lugo told Northwest Elite Index. “Wanting to major in the engineering field, I believe that Navy was the best option in that point of view. I also love the military aspect of me going into the Navy as an officer. It would set me up in a career once I get out of the academy.

“And then of course you have the football, one of the better programs in the nation in my opinion and with having me being an offensive linemen and knowing Navy has one of the best running games in college football, that really sold me on them.”

Lugo was offered by the Naval Academy in October, and it started a long feeling out process, that lead to an official visit to Annapolis, Maryland.

“I took my official visit to the first weekend of this month, and it was everything I expected and then some,” Lugo said. “I really learned lot from that visit and it helped me know that I would be able to make in the Academy lifestyle. Made it seem a lot more doable and I could really see myself at the Academy.

“I really enjoyed it and from there on, I had a deep feeling that if everything went smooth with the application process, I was thinking about committing to them.”

From there Lugo would have to wait a few weeks for Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo and defensive line coach Shaun Nua to make the trek from back east for a much anticipated in-home visit.

“I was very excited when they said that they were come out and see my at my house,” Lugo said. “But it was a really good time because they answered a couple of my last minute questions that I still had and made me feel really welcomed to the brotherhood at Navy.”

Lugo wasn’t going to let the Navy coaches off easy, as he would make them sweat a little while he got approval from mom.

“After it was all said and done, we took pictures and they started to head out,” Lugo noted. “When they did, I asked my mom if she would feel comfortable with me committing to them knowing that I had all of my questions answered. So she said yes and I ran outside before they left, back inside and that’s when I told them the news that I was going to commit to them, and then they got so excited.

“I just had a smile that I couldn’t get off my face because I knew that I had made a great decision.”

We couldn’t be happier for Lugo and his family, as we have seen him grow over the last few years as both an athlete and person. The sky is the limit for the 6-foot-3, 280 pounder, as we fully expect him to become a big time player for the Midshipmen.