Less than 24 hours after securing a verbal commitment from Jordan quarterback Alex Hart, Utah State’s football team received another pledge.
Pleasant Grove tight end/defensive end Jason Fanaika verbally committed to the Aggies on Tuesday night.
“I just felt more comfortable there with everything that’s happening and coach (Gary) Andersen turning their program around,” Fanaika said. “I like the offensive coordinator (Dave Baldwin), he’s a really good guy.”
Andersen and his staff now have seven in-state recruits already committed for the 2010 signing class.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Fanaika is following in his teammate’s footsteps. This past summer, Pleasant Grove offensive lineman Bryce Walker verbally committed to Andersen and the Aggies.
“He’s a big reason why I committed,” Fanaika said of Walker. “... He’s been going up to all the home games and he’s been telling me that it’s looking good up there and the program looks more aggressive, like everything’s been turned around.
“He told me the atmosphere is so different than anywhere he’s been, so I want to go up there and try to help the team get to the promised land like coach Andersen has been talking about.”
Similar to what he’s doing at Pleasant Grove — on both sides of the ball.
Fanaika has caught 15 passes for 238 yards and five touchdowns for the 7-1 Vikings. Defensively, he’s recorded 14 tackles and four sacks.
Pleasant Grove, which won its first seven games before falling to Lone Peak last week, concludes the regular season Friday against Alta.
“We’re doing good,” Fanaika said. “Our coaches are doing a good job, our team’s just been getting the job done. We’ve got a big game this week.”
Fanaika, whose cousin went to USU, was also offered by Utah. He had been talking to BYU, as well.
Fanaika, who is a member of the LDS Church, said he’s undecided on serving a mission.
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