For Claremont High 2018 linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu a scholarship offer from Stanford was years in the making.

The Rivals' No. 115 overall player for his class has offers from powerhouses across the country and now every program in the PAC-12 with the exception of Cal. But Stanford was a school he and his mother, Rosanna, had circled on the wish list.

"Ever since I was a little kid me and my mom talked about that offer," he said. "Definitely one of my goals in life was to get a scholarship to Stanford. It came true."

Tuliaupupu said he's been in touch with Stanford coaches since he was a freshman. His primary contacts are inside linebackers coach Peter Hansen and special teams coach Pete Alamar.

But even before he was in high school he and mother had their eyes on Stanford. Whenever Rosanna caught Tuliaupupu playing EA Sport's NCAA football video game when he should be studying, she was quick to tell him, "Education is more important than football," he remembers.

It was true even for virtual football. But if his homework was done and he had time to play the game? "She’d tell me to play as Stanford," he laughed.

He said the 2009 version of the game was the first one he played. If memory serves, EA's talent evaluation experts were not kind to that Stanford video game team. But, of course, the real-world Cardinal were on the verge of their renaissance that year.

Knowing the academic benchmarks recruits have to hit to even get an offer, Tuliaupupu credited the group effort it took to put him that position.

"I think it says I have a good support system that actually cares about my grades," he said. "I come from a good family that pushes me in school and knows that football isn’t the only way. I have to be a beast in the classroom if I want to be a good football player as well."

Which is why his mother was his first call when he got the offer: "I called her and we both had our little screams on the phone and my dad (Turnboll) was proud of me, too."

Tuliaupupu isn't sure when he can get to Stanford. He needs to consult with his family about whether they will try to see Stanford, Cal and Oregon all on one trip in the spring or summer. But he said he will get up to The Farm "definitely this summer."

He doesn't have a list of favorites because he wants to "get to know the schools before crossing people off" and leave "no stone unturned." He's eager to see Stanford and continue building relationships with the coaches.

"They obviously have a great program," he said of watching the Cardinal from afar. "They develop guys to make them great. Coach Hansen seems like a good guy. I’ve been so excited for this offer for a few years now. I’ve been working for it. Their education some consider it Ivy League. It’s definitely a great school."

On the field he sees himself as a DE/OLB hybrid who also is capable of moving inside.

"Anywhere they need," he said. "I’ll work hard for it and earn a position."