Petite explains switch to USC

Tyler Petite saw his team down three touchdowns in the state bowl championship this past weekend but still he had confidence.

Moraga (Calif.) Campolindo was in this position before earlier in the season and the new USC commit was sure his team could mount another comeback.

"We had a game before where we were down 21 points, it was Las Lomas earlier in our year, and when we went in at halftime we said it is the last game of the year, if you need to leave on a stretcher then that's what you need to do," Petite said. "It's the last one and you need to give everything you have."

Petite's team charged back late in incredible fashion to pull out the 35-28 victory and the four-star tight end said he couldn't be happier with the outcome.

"I'm so proud of my team," Petite said.

"I'm just speechless because we've worked so hard through this season and to have it culminate here. We were here three years ago and we lost in a close game so to be able to come back out here and come back from that kind of deficit and win the state championship, it's unreal and I'm so proud of my team and so happy."

It has been a hectic few weeks for Petite, who switched his commitment from Duke to USC in the middle of Campolindo's playoff run.

The four-star had been committed to Duke for months but after thinking about it more and considering all his options he felt playing for the Trojans was the right move.

"I really think this is the right place," Petite said. "Going into the regional bowl, I was happy to be done with it. Just to have a really great week of practice and to win a state championship.

"The biggest thing for me is when I went down that was the only school I didn't have an offer from. Deep down that's where I really wanted to go.

"I have the utmost respect for Duke and coach (David Cutcliffe) he's just a great man but I really think it's the right place for me. I talked to my family and they believe that too so that was the decision."

Rivals.com rates Petite as the seventh-best tight end in the class. He will play in the Under Armour All-America Bowl in the coming weeks.