Kye Duval takes a two-hour bus ride home every day.
Like many Santa Ana (Cali.) Mater Dei students, he doesn't live right down the street from his high school, but enrolling at the football powerhouse for his freshman year, Duvall opened his to what his future could hold.
"Coming from a small town like (Moreno Valley), I started as a nobody -- still is, really -- but seeing my ability to grow into the Mater Dei aspect, it has been really great," Duval said. "It just feels like everything's paying off for me, recruiting wise."
That future saw a quick climb in January, when Duval received his first offer from Missouri. Sacramento State and UNLV followed with scholarships, but an SEC school being the first to the punch meant the most in the early stage of his recruitment.
"It was really a surprise to me," Duval said. "It was like the second week of spring practice, and I'm just doing my thing with the linebackers in D-line. I didn't really think no one would offer me until I started working with our O-line, going rep after rep after rep."
Tigers safeties coach Jacob Yoro offered multiple Mater Dei players Jan. 16. He didn't get much time to talk to players, but the staffer liked Duval's speed off the line and being able to hold his own against top competition, including four-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene.
With Class of 2025 outside linebacker Nasir Wyatt graduating and moving onto Oregon, Duval will step into a starting role as a sophomore. He accumulated 3.5 sacks this past season, and with a year behind Power Four talents, Duval sees an opportunity to only better those numbers with more snaps.
"During my freshman year, I was really scared, because it's Mater Dei," Duval said. "It's a big role to fill, and after the season, being able to see Wyatt, Shaun (Scott) and DJ (Clanton) and all these other rushers teaching me, I'm feel confident taking up that starting spot."
Watching Luther Burden III highlights the past three years, he's seen the fun nature of the Tigers. With Missouri, a school over 1,700 miles from Mater Dei, being that first offer on the table, it leaves a lasting mark on Duval's recruitment, one that he hopes will come with a visit to Columbia.
"It feels like my hard work is actually paying off," Duval said. "All the days I've been working and all the times no one has been seeing me, I had just been putting into work, and it feels just really grateful and blessed to have the opportunity."
missouri.rivals.com
Like many Santa Ana (Cali.) Mater Dei students, he doesn't live right down the street from his high school, but enrolling at the football powerhouse for his freshman year, Duvall opened his to what his future could hold.
"Coming from a small town like (Moreno Valley), I started as a nobody -- still is, really -- but seeing my ability to grow into the Mater Dei aspect, it has been really great," Duval said. "It just feels like everything's paying off for me, recruiting wise."
That future saw a quick climb in January, when Duval received his first offer from Missouri. Sacramento State and UNLV followed with scholarships, but an SEC school being the first to the punch meant the most in the early stage of his recruitment.
"It was really a surprise to me," Duval said. "It was like the second week of spring practice, and I'm just doing my thing with the linebackers in D-line. I didn't really think no one would offer me until I started working with our O-line, going rep after rep after rep."
Tigers safeties coach Jacob Yoro offered multiple Mater Dei players Jan. 16. He didn't get much time to talk to players, but the staffer liked Duval's speed off the line and being able to hold his own against top competition, including four-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene.
With Class of 2025 outside linebacker Nasir Wyatt graduating and moving onto Oregon, Duval will step into a starting role as a sophomore. He accumulated 3.5 sacks this past season, and with a year behind Power Four talents, Duval sees an opportunity to only better those numbers with more snaps.
"During my freshman year, I was really scared, because it's Mater Dei," Duval said. "It's a big role to fill, and after the season, being able to see Wyatt, Shaun (Scott) and DJ (Clanton) and all these other rushers teaching me, I'm feel confident taking up that starting spot."
Watching Luther Burden III highlights the past three years, he's seen the fun nature of the Tigers. With Missouri, a school over 1,700 miles from Mater Dei, being that first offer on the table, it leaves a lasting mark on Duval's recruitment, one that he hopes will come with a visit to Columbia.
"It feels like my hard work is actually paying off," Duval said. "All the days I've been working and all the times no one has been seeing me, I had just been putting into work, and it feels just really grateful and blessed to have the opportunity."
Mizzou offer shows 2028 EDGE Kye Duval his hard work pays off
Missouri safeties coach Jacob Yoro surprised Kye Duval with his first offer Jan. 16.
