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Lathrop’s Santos signs with Division II Jessup University
Carlos Santos signing
Senior midfielder Carlos Santos shows off his signed letter of intent to play for the William Jessup University men’s soccer team during a ceremony at the Lathrop High career center last Wednesday, March 11. COURTESY PHOTO

 Carlos Santos didn’t wait around to get recruited.

He essentially did the recruiting himself.

The Lathrop High senior finished off the process last week when he signed a national letter of intent to play at the NCAA Division II level for William Jessup University out of Rocklin.

“Jessup was a school that caught my eye,” Santos said. “I had other schools in mind, other options, but Jessup was the school I fell in love with. There was something about the whole atmosphere, the campus and the soccer itself. That’s why I chose Jessup.”

Santos reached out to the Jessup coaching staff going into a college showcase in Arizona this past fall. Assistant coach Danny Ramos responded, and the Warriors were impressed enough to follow up a week after the tournament.

Carlos Santos signing
Lathrop defensive midfielder Carlos Santos possesses the ball while pressed by East Union striker Yandel Gutierrez in a non-league game. - photo by SEAN KAHLER
From there, Santos attended an ID camp on the Jessup campus and was offered an athletic scholarship earlier this month. He plans to pursue a degree in business.

“The coaches were very welcoming and made me feel at home,” Santos said. “Definitely looking forward to starting the college chapter of my soccer career. I’m up for the challenge, and I know I’ll fit in perfectly.”

A four-year standout at Lathrop, Santos has had no problems fitting in anywhere he was needed. With his size at 6 feet even, work rate, calmness on the ball and accuracy on long passes, Santos played at every level of the pitch both centrally and out wide.

He believes his main role will be as a holding midfielder for Jessup. It’s what he mainly plays for the River Islands Surf’s Elite Clubs National League team.

Greg Lazaga’s 10th season as Jessup University head coach was also the program’s second in the NCAA Division II Pac West Conference. The Warriors will become eligible for national championship play this upcoming fall. The school was previously part of the California Pacific Conference and Golden State Athletic Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

While at Lathrop, Santos helped the Spartans reach new heights. During his freshman year, they qualified for the Sac-Joaquin playoffs for the first time.

Lathrop is coming off its best-ever season, going 20-6-2 while winning its first Western Athletic Conference championship and advancing to the SJS semifinals. Santos was named to the All-WAC first team.

“It was an amazing, very memorable four years that will stick with me the rest of my life,” Santos said. “It feels great to be part of school history.”