What a long, strange trip it’s been: Has ex-Fresno area prep star QB finally found a home?

It has been a long road for Alec Trujillo since he graduated from San Joaquin Memorial in 2019 — a route that the quarterback hopes he can look back on and say it was all worth it.

He earned a scholarship out of high school to play football at San Jose State, seeing brief action in the fourth quarter of a game against Boise State in 2019 but did not have any pass attempts.

Waiting for another opportunity, nothing ever came his way in two seasons there, though he retained his first year of eligibility.

Trujillo was able to savor the experience.

“That’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid ... to earn a Division I football scholarship,” he said.

But he wanted more, actual playing time, rather than standing on the sideline with a headset and clipboard.

Figuring the best, quickest way to get a shot was at a junior college. Trujillo ended up joining Iowa Central for the 2021 season.

And then came another setback on his career path.

He played one game before breaking his foot in the second game of the season.

Trujillo’s new start came to an abrupt end. External pins were placed in his foot, set to remain there for at least eight weeks before rehabbing the injury.

It was a gut punch, he recalls, “a tough time for me.”

Trujillo even questioned whether he should keep playing football, a sport that he had loved since he was a child.

Part of him didn’t want to give up that dream and potentially another shot at an NCAA D-I school.

The COVID epidemic along the way certainly did not help, either, as it changed the landscape of college football for at least a couple of seasons.

Doubt remained, but talks with family and friends changed Trujillo’s outlook.

“Dark place,” he said. “I was able just to ... find my love for football again.”

Fresno State bound

Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford also gave Trujillo a boost.

Trujillo’s ears perked up. He listened closely as an invitation was extended to join the Bulldogs as a walk-on in 2022.

It was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up, even though the Bulldogs were set on their starter with Jake Haener remaining with the program for one more year.

Haener ended up leading the team to a Mountain West championship and the LA Bowl title.

Trujillo didn’t mind the waiting game this time. Plus, another nearby destination emerged.

“Fortunate enough,” he said. “There were no promises or anything there, but I realized after that season I still have three years of eligibility. What better place to play right now than at Fresno City.”

Another call from a coach

Little did Trujillo know that he still had junior college eligibility.

Rams coach Tony Caviglia gave Trujillo a call and told him, “We’d love to have you here.’

“It just seemed the right fit,” Trujillo said.

Caviglia said they had been interested in Trujillo in seasons past, but nothing worked out.

Until it did.

Can’t blame Caviglia for the interest, since the Exeter native led the Panthers to a CIF Division II-A championship and also rushed for 19 touchdowns in his high school career. He passed for 4,253 yards and 50 touchdowns as a senior, working with targets such as Jalen McMillan, now at Washington.

“He’s awesome to work with and coach,” Caviglia said. “He’s completely committed to the program and making a good offense. He is obviously very experienced and understands things because he’s been to three different programs. He’s light years ahead of many incoming freshmen.”

As for that exposure he craved?

Trujillo will be the Rams’ starting quarterback when the season kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Diablo Valley in Pleasant Hill.

He said he’s ready to start a new journey with the Rams. Maybe one that will land the 5-foot-11 Trujillo another D-I scholarship.

“I’ve been an underdog for being an undersized quarterback,” he said. “There’s always stuff that you’re told you can’t do. All things are possible and my life has shown that.”