Three standing out to Afalava
Jared Afalava was thoroughly disappointed Saturday after his South Jordan (Utah) Bingham squad lost to Orange (Calif.) Lutheran by 35 points but the three-star linebacker was gracious enough to talk recruiting and some schools are definitely standing out.
Nebraska, Utah and Oregon are the three programs looking the best to Afalava, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect who is athletic, high-flying and hard-hitting. UCLA and Oregon State are also being considered.
Advertisement
"Nebraska is going hard with recruiting me," Afalava said. "Every day they have a message for me and they send me mail all the time. Their coaches call me when they can and I like that.
"One of (Utah's) coaches came down to watch me and I like Utah altogether. Staying home around my family is good for me. That was good to see that coach here at the game. I needed to go hard this game.
"Oregon is one of my favorite schools. I like the way they are, the way they come out and play, the way they dress, their coaches. It's all good with Oregon."
Rated No. 43 at outside linebacker in the 2012 class and fifth in the Utah state rankings by Rivals.com, Afalava said he hasn't scheduled any official visits and probably won't take any until after the season.
Afalava, who finished with 87 tackles and five interceptions in his junior season, is not that focused on recruiting at this point in his senior year. Getting Bingham back on its winning ways seems most important to him.
After wins over West Jordan, Utah, and Sandy (Utah) Alta to start the season, the loss to powerhouse Orange Lutheran was a wake-up call.
"It was a big learning experience," Afalava said. "We just came out soft. We haven't really been practicing hard this week because we've been trying to get our bodies back in shape. We just need to step it up and work harder.
"I definitely take that on my shoulders. I always try to get the boys pumped up and get them going and go their hardest. Sometimes it doesn't work as well as I want it to."