Sam Acho was at D/FW Airport in mid-June, waiting to embark on his family's annual medical mission to Nigeria, when he took a call from Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll. He was offering a football scholarship.

Acho thought, "Pretty cool."

For the next two weeks, Acho helped his father and 40 doctors and nurses administer to patients in Enugu, Nigeria. Meanwhile, Acho's coach at St. Mark's, Hayward Lee, sent his highlight film to Rivals.com. The tape was posted on Rivals' Web site, and a tidal wave of interest in the 6-3, 250-pound defensive end erupted.

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Sam Acho committed to Texas in August and said he intends to honor his pledge.

Acho (AH-cho) was oblivious to the attention while he was a continent away.

"I got home and I was in shock," said Acho, who will play his final regular-season high school game Friday against Greenhill. "My coach told me I was the talk of the Internet."

What followed was the unlikely recruitment of Acho, who ultimately committed to Texas.

Every year in football-crazed Texas, there is a hidden gem.

This year's sleeper is Acho.

Acho was being recruited, getting the usual mail that promising juniors receive. He was a three-sport athlete at one of the state's most prestigious private schools. But he wasn't going to be on Rivals.com's Texas 100 state list.

TCU gets credit for scouting and offering Acho a scholarship first last spring. Oklahoma State, Tulsa and SMU soon followed.

A decision by Acho's father, Sonny, turned their world upside down. Sam would go to Southern Cal's camp June 13-14. Father and son figured with five or six offers in hand, why not showcase him to one of the nation's top programs?

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Sam Acho (82), clowning with St. Mark's teammate Ike Crews, wasn't on Rivals.com's recruiting radar until his coach sent the Web site a video in June.

Acho had a stellar camp. Among 300 athletes, Acho's vertical and strength tests and his time in the 40-yard dash stood out. USC assistant Ken Norton Jr., the former Cowboys linebacker who recruits Texas for the Trojans, asked Sonny for an explanation.

"Ken Norton said, 'Where did you hide him?' " Sonny said.

The Achos left for Nigeria on June 18. Sonny, a psychologist and pastor, and his wife, Christie, a registered nurse, have been making medical mission trips to their home country for 12 years. Sam and his brother, Emanuel, both born in Dallas, have gone the last three years.

"It humbles me to see how other people live," Sam said. "And how blessed I am to be living the way I am in America."

Sam was humbled again when he returned home the first week in July.

He learned about the highlight tape on Rivals.com and a subsequent barrage of phone calls from college coaches. John Talman, Rivals.com's national recruiting editor who handles Texas, was also shocked by the reaction to Acho's video, which showcased his size and speed.

"I really think that started this all," Talman said. "Everyone wanted to find out who this guy was."

In late July, the Achos visited Texas. They toured the McCombs School of Business and met the coaching staff. Sam kept hearing the words "family atmosphere."

"They were the only ones to bring it up," Sam said. "Everywhere else, I had to ask them about the family atmosphere."

Sam waited a month to commit to Texas. He had offers from USC and Virginia. Stanford also wanted him, and Nebraska came on strong after Acho rose to No. 40 on Rivals' state list.

Acho picked Texas and said he intends to honor the decision.

That Sam Acho will sign a national letter intent Feb. 7 is a story itself. His father is 5-7. His mother is 5-6. Emanuel, a 6-1 junior, is a starting linebacker at St. Mark's.

"He [Sam] got my father's genes," Sonny explained.

Sam and Emanuel's grandfather is 6-1. They have two uncles who are 6-3. St. Mark's doesn't track defensive statistics, but Acho has the respect of his opponents.

"His speed moves and strength outside, we couldn't handle it all night," said Houston Kinkaid coach Gary McMillon, whose team lost to St. Mark's, 21-7, last week. "He basically lived in our backfield."

Sam also plays on the basketball team and holds the school record in the discus.

"He is a phenomenal person," Lee said.

Lee said he was again reminded of that the morning after the win over Houston Kinkaid.

The entire St. Mark's team showed up at 8:30 a.m. for a community service project at Richland College.

The mission? Planting trees. So who lugged around 75-pound live oak saplings hours after playing almost every down against Kinkaid?

Sam Acho.

"He had every reason to do something less strenuous," Lee said. "Everything he does, he just wants to do 100 percent."

E-mail twills@dallasnews.com

Oral commitment: Texas

Position: Defensive end

Ht./wt.: 6-3, 250

40-yard dash: 4.7 seconds

Vertical leap: 34 inches

Bench press: 300 pounds

Scouting report: Acho's combination of size and speed gives offensive tackles fit. He has long arms and a long frame. He gets off the ball well and gets to the quarterback or ball carrier quickly. He has tremendous upside. He's a good enough athlete to play tight end for St. Mark's. He has seven receptions for 68 yards.

Based on conversations with coaches and information from Rivals.com

Greenhill (3-6, 2-3 SPC Division I) at St. Mark's (4-4, 2-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday