Mission Viejo fullback Jahleel Pinner took the podium on Wednesday and promptly thanked his father, mother, grandmother, head coach and position coach, before closing his short speech with a special thanks to teammate Colby Cyburt for choosing UCLA.

“It’ll make me work that much harder,” said a smiling Pinner, bringing 24 student athletes and their parents to a chuckle during the Diablos’ signing day ceremony at Mission Viejo High.

Pinner officially signed a national letter of intent to USC on Wednesday but has had the Trojans written on his heart since he committed last May.

“USC was my first choice and my only choice,” Pinner said. “I was 110 percent. I’m excited. I’ve been ready to get this out of the way.”

The feeling might be mutual for USC, which landed the nation’s No. 1 ranked fullback by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Pinner is a versatile back at 6-0, 230 pounds, noted for his blocking, power, hands and selflessness. After mostly serving as a blocker his first year on varsity, Pinner had 102 touches as a senior and six touchdowns, including four as a receiver.

“That’s what they like about me, the way I take angles on my blocks, and my hands out of the backfield,” Pinner said. “When I go up there and they talk to me about my position, Stanley Havili, they always tell me I’m going to be that type of back.

“As long as I’m on the field I don’t really care.”

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