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SALT LAKE CITY -- Chase Hansen was born to be a football player. It's in the DNA.
Chase's father Brian was a linebacker at BYU from 1978-82. His uncles Bruce and Regan also played for the Cougars in the mid-80s, while his cousin Isaac Kelley played linebacker from 1999-2001. That is what makes his college choice so surprising.
Chase is one of the highest rated football prospects in the state of Utah. He had offers from both BYU and Utah. In June, he surprised many by choosing the Utes.
There's not much else to it other than it felt like the perfect choice for me.
–Hansen
"After praying about it, ultimately, it just felt right," says Chase about his decision. "There's not much else to it other than it felt like the perfect choice for me. Plenty of people disagreed with that and told me it was the wrong one, I guess, living where I live."
Despite the strong family ties to BYU, his family, especially his father, have been very supportive of his decision.
"Some of the BYU alumni in my family gave me a bit of a hard time," Chase says with a smile on his face. "But the support from my Dad, even my grandpa who is a huge BYU fan, has been awesome."
With his big decision now behind him, he can focus on his senior season and leading Lone Peak back to Rice-Eccles Stadium this November. The Knights reached the semifinals in 2010 before losing to Fremont; a loss that still stings for Chase and his teammates.
"I feel bad for the guys that left us last year on that note," he says. "But I don't know if we would have the same kind of drive as we would without that loss. It will be an awesome motivation. Hopefully when we get to that point to keep it rolling."
The Knights return several key skill position players, including junior Tallon Shumway and BYU commit Micah Hanneman. If their offensive and defensive lines can come together they should challenge Bingham in region 4 and contend for a state championship. Chase has already planned out the perfect ending to his senior season for him and his teammates.
"First things first is to win the state title," he says. "That's all I really care about. Whatever else happens along the way is awesome. As long as we get that ring and take care of business that's the perfect ending to my high school career."
Chase will serve a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints before enrolling at Utah. He plans to play quarterback when he returns but is open to playing on the defensive side of the ball.
*Email: jjensen@ksl.com*Twitter: @JJSportsBeat
