Publico Stands Tall Despite Snub by Division I Schools

Paul Publico was the kid who grew up faster than everyone else.

He was the kid who, from a tender age, wasn’t intimidated by adults and could carry on mature conversations with his mom’s friends at social functions.

He was the kid who, despite being a year younger than most of his senior classmates at Los Alamitos High, was looked upon as the leader on the football field, the guy everyone would turn to for support in even the bleakest situations.

He was headstrong and smart but also knew how to have fun. He was going places, to a big-time college athletic program in a big-time setting.

If only his height would have let him.

Last season, Publico emerged as one of the top defensive players in Orange County. The standout linebacker was fast and strong and had a sense for the football.

“Wherever the ball was, you’d find him,” Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes said. “He’d go through people, and he would play as hard as you could play on every down--just what you want every kid to do, but you seldom found anyone who would.

“[College] coaches would watch him on film and say, ‘Who’s number 95?’ ”

But when the big-time Division I coaches actually saw Publico--all 5 feet 9 inches and 190 pounds of him--their interest waned. Publico drew interest from the Naval Academy and, to a lesser extent, Columbia, but eventually signed with UC Davis, a Division II independent.

It didn’t matter that Publico was a Times’ Orange County first-team defensive selection or that he was the defensive player of the year in the Sunset League.

“[Most coaches] just kind of categorized me as a small guy that’s not going to be good,” Publico said. “I just tried to overcome that. I have no choice. If I want to be good, I have to work harder than everybody.”

While his physical dimensions drew laughs, his football statistics drew raves. Last season, Publico had 156 tackles--56 solo--in addition to six forced fumbles, three interceptions and a blocked punt, which he returned for a touchdown. He did all this and kept smiles on teammates’ faces.

“He would just start telling jokes in huddles during a critical part of the game,” Los Alamitos defensive back Steve Alminiana said. “He takes care of business when he has to, but otherwise, he likes to have fun.”

Yet, many places Publico went, he found he was the butt of jokes. He once went into a barbershop with a friend and introduced himself. The barber didn’t believe him.

“I’ve been laughed at a few times,” said Publico, who’s been 5-9 since he was in the eighth grade. “I tell people I play linebacker, and they say, ‘You play linebacker?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m kind of good.’ They’re like, ‘Whatever.’ ”

Publico, 17, may have the last laugh. He won’t turn 18 until Nov. 30, well after UC Davis’ regular-season finale Nov. 11 at Western Washington. So he may have another growth spurt or two left in him.

And UC Davis has sent lesser-known players on to pro careers. Quarterback Kevin Daft was lightly regarded coming out of Foothill High but went on to make the roster of the AFC champion Tennessee Titans last season.

“If Paul could put on 20, 25 pounds, I could see him being a heck of a college player,” Barnes said. “He will be an incredibly special player at Davis.”

Publico hasn’t decided whether he will take a redshirt season this fall, but there’s no doubt he will be in a red-and-white North uniform at 7:15 p.m. Friday in the Orange County North-South Prep All-Star Game at Orange Coast College.

North Coach John Turek of Troy, who has seen Publico practice over the last few weeks, said UC Davis may have gotten a steal.

“He plays a whole lot bigger than he is,” Turek said. “Paul is an exceptionally bright football player. He picked up our system extremely fast. He recognizes the offensive sets and moves people around.”

Publico has exhibited precocious behavior since his mom used to drag him around to parties when he was little and make him speak to all the grown-ups.

“I developed these people skills where I can actually talk and converse with people as opposed to some people sitting there and going, ‘Yeah,’ ” Publico said. “Actually, I probably talk too much.”

If the undersized but overachieving Publico proves himself in college, he’ll have license to talk all he wants.