Stanger said:
St Joseph HS (Santa Maria, CA) QB Dino Maldonado commits to PSU.
Senior season stats: 3,125 passing yards (69%) with 33 TDs and 9 INTs. 380 yards rushing (5.8 yds per rush) and 7 TDs.
Dino is the son of former California Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado.
https://mobile.twitter.com/StJosephSports/status/994298027849367552/photo/1
A little more info on the newest Viking:
Big Sky bound: St. Joseph's Dino Maldonado stays in green, heading now to Portland State
https://santamariatimes.com/sports/high-school/football/big-sky-bound-st-joseph-s-dino-maldonado-
stays-in/article_6bc21eae-4f5b-5fcc-a7ba-f008c00f0e53.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share
There will be another St. Joseph football standout moving on to the Football Championship Subdivision level.
And this time, it was the conductor of the Knights’ offensive machine at quarterback who will play college ball: Dino Maldonado.
The senior, who shattered some school records while running the Knights’ shotgun spread attack, signed a late National Letter of Intent with Portland State in front of family, friends and his former coaches on Wednesday inside the Knights’ gym.
He continues the Knights’ streak of producing FCS level talent – as St. Joseph has produced Cal Poly Mustangs C.J. Cole, Fenton Will and, most recently, Tim Miller in the last couple of years.
Maldonado, additionally, is in this kind of company on Foster Road: Ex-Knight quarterbacks who went on to play collegiately – a list that includes Curry Parham (Hancock College, Tabor College), Tim Puerling (Cal Poly, played quarterback at St. Joseph before shifting over to running back and defensive back), Paul Avila (University of Redlands) and lastly, Mark Brunell (Washington).
Maldonado first walked inside an empty gym before his 12:20 p.m. ceremony wearing a T-shirt and shorts. But then he came out of the locker room with his new Portland State sweater and hat draped over him – signifying his commitment to the Vikings.
He then listened to words of praise from his athletic director Tom Mott, who emceed the lunchtime event.
“It’s an exciting day here at St. Joe’s whenever one of our athletes commits to a university,” Mott said. “We couldn’t be happier for Dino. We’re proud he came to St. Joseph a few years ago and we’re excited to see what he does up in Portland as the man he continues to become throughout his life.”
Maldonado then took the microphone to thank everyone for their support before he used that same right arm that led the Knights’ aerial assault to sign the papers.
“I can’t wait to get out there and just play football,” Maldonado told the crowd.
He also gets to stay in green, saying “I’m excited. It (the PSU colors) is the same colors as St. Joe’s – green and white. I’m ready to get to work and contribute to the team as soon as possible.”
Maldonado became a late bloomer on the recruiting trail after a strong senior campaign. He finished the year by throwing 3,125 yards, 33 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Those numbers got Maldonado to draw interest from Adams State of the NCAA Division II realm and also the University of Redlands, which plays in Division III.
Maldonado, though, accepted the late offer from the Vikings, who went 0-11 last season. He was mostly recruited by a familiar face on the St. Joseph campus: Payam Saadat, who once pilfered the ex-Knight stars Cole and Will during his time at Cal Poly. Saadat has since become the Vikings’ defensive coordinator and remains active on the recruiting trail for the Vikes in the 805 region.
“He’s a really good guy and a really good coach,” Maldonado said of Saadat. “My visit went well with him along with the rest of the coaches and guys.”
Even though Maldonado is the latest to move on to the NCAA Division I ranks from St. Joseph, he’s aware that his aforementioned former Knight teammates are now officially his college rivals in the Big Sky Conference. Maldonado, though, says he still respects his new collegiate opponents.
“It’ll be fun playing against them – and reuniting with them,” Maldonado said of Cole, Will and Tim Miller.
Maldonado said Business is one possible major for him when he’s on the Portland State campus. He’ll also be neighbors with former Knights basketball star Jojo Walker, who is currently attending the nearby University of Portland.
“I texted him when I went up for a visit. Unfortunately, I couldn’t link up with him but I’m excited to be close to him,” Maldonado said.
Maldonado left many of his friends and ex-coaches proud for managing to become an NCAA student-athlete, including his former head coach Jim Chvala who offered this scouting report of the Vikings’ newest signal-caller.
“They’re going to get someone who will put the effort in. He’s going to work hard to learn the program up there. He’s coachable and that’s what you want in a football player – to be coachable,” Chvala said.
As Maldonado shook hands and took pictures with his friends and family members who attended the ceremony, he’s equally ecstatic of the fact that he won’t be the only member of the Knights’ 2018 class who will play college ball – as Tim Miller and twin brother Joseph (Rocky Mountain College) and Mason Biely (Kansas Wesleyan) are all heading to the four-year level as well.
