Pizula Picks New Mexico St.; Mollica Chooses Pittsburgh

Brian Pizula of Sunny Hills High School, one of Orange County’s leading rushers last season, said Tuesday he has made an oral commitment to attend New Mexico State.

Edison lineman Lawson Mollica has committed to attend Pittsburgh.

The first day high school football players can sign letters of intent is Feb. 14.

Pizula, 5-feet-11, 195 pounds, chose New Mexico State over Wyoming and Montana. New Mexico State’s David Chisum, a former Sunny Hills quarterback, was Pizula’s recruiting host during his visit to the school.

Pizula was the county’s sixth-leading rusher last season with 1,226 yards in 101 carries. He said he has no plans to redshirt his freshman year at New Mexico State.

Mollica, 6-4, 250 pounds, considered offers from Kansas, Arizona and Oregon before committing to Pittsburgh Monday.