Deer Valley athlete Dez Melton held offers from San Diego State, Iowa State, Nebraska, ASU, Arizona and NAU.
But it was the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with top programs that led him to commit and sign with Louisville.
“I felt like the program would be able to do something in the next few years,” Melton said. “I feel like playing against the top dogs in the ACC like Clemson and starting off with Notre Dame, I feel like this would be better exposure and it would be a lot of fun.”
As a senior, Melton accumulated 1,200 and 10 touchdowns as a senior playing multiple positions for the Skyhawks.
“His football IQ is awesome,” Deer Valley head coach Dan Friedman said. “We put him in a ton of different positions and he knew what to do. He picked up the system quickly. It’s nice coaching an athlete like that.”
Melton said the Cardinals plan to have him play tight end as the next level.
“He should do well there,” Friedman said. “He fits the profile. He’s got all the characteristics: the strength, the speed, the size, so I think the coaches that he’ll have at Louisville, he’ll do great there.”
This is the second straight class where a Deer Valley players committed to a Power 5 program. Iowa State offensive tackle Joey Ramos made his pledge to the Cyclones in the class of 2018.
