The lights beam down, fans roar with excitement, pom poms shake, cameras flash, whistles blow–it’s the Friday Night Lights everyone knows and loves. In the middle of it all stands senior Jude Surigao. Although his high school football career is now over, he is continuing on at the collegiate level at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC.
“Football has always been my passion,” said Surigao. “I have played other sports but I have always been the best at football and it’s what I enjoy the most.”
Surigao has been playing football for seven years, most recently as tight end for the Trojans. Come winter 2026, he will be playing for the Campbell Camels. His stats show just why he is now a NCAA Division 1 commit. He averaged almost 22 yards per catch with 500 receiving yards on just 23 catches. He scored six touchdowns, the longest being 80 yards his senior season. Surigao earned First Team All-Conference recognition twice with Coastal Preps. Surigao’s drive to excellence shows not only as a player but also as a leader on and off the field.
“He is obviously one of the best players on the team, but more than that he’s such a great leader with the way he practices and the way he shows up every day, and leads others by example,” says head football coach Shane Handy. “You know, he’s a special athlete, a special person and a quality young man, in the way he carries himself and the way he talks to others and takes care of other people.”
Surigao is known to exemplify leadership not only by coaches and educators but also by friends and teammates. They described him as being devoted, a hard worker, outgoing and a joy to be around. He makes friends and sets the pace wherever he goes and is anticipated to do the same at Campbell.
“He’s the total package of academic and athletic,” says Handy. “He leads others by example, but also just being a top notch academic person is the key. ”
Surigao’s mindset of athleticism and excellence carries over to his academics. Ranked third in his class as well as participating in clubs like DECA, National Honor Society, and being a board member of Key Club. Surigao also does volunteer work at a local fire station. He is not only planning to take his athletic career to the next level but also his academics.
“I am excited to be a part of the team,” said Surigao. “And grow and develop with a new program of athletics and at the learning level as well.”
Now that Surigao is committed, he will graduate from West at the end of the 2025 and head to Campbell in January to major in accounting and pre-law. He will continue on as tight end for the Camels and is eagerly waiting to begin the season.
“Just overall, he’s a good guy,” says junior Garrison Abbott. “Great to talk to on the bus rides and everything. I’ll miss that, and I’m gonna miss having such a hard worker on the team.”
