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SOUTH JORDAN - Jared Afalava wasn't happy when his father told him the family was moving from Hawaii to Utah.
"My dad had a business opportunity come up here and he just told the family 'We're going to Utah," Jared remembers. "I really didn't like the move. Then we got here, I came to practice with the team and I loved it."
Jared found an environment at Bingham High School that was much different than the one he experienced in his native Hawaii where, if he had stayed, he would have played at Kahuku High School.
"I didn't really know the football style over here, I didn't know if I was going to fit in with the group," he says. "I came here and the team was so positive. Whenever I made a mistake they'd be like 'good job, good job, work at it again. Get better.' They don't do that in Hawaii. If you mess up you just get teased."
Jared has thrived with the Miners. The 6-3, 220 pound linebacker has been an important member of Bingham's back -to-back 5A state titles. Last year, as a junior, he was second on the team with 80 tackles and led the Miners with 5 interceptions, two he returned for touchdowns.
His performance on the football field has caught the attention of several college football teams. He has had offers from BYU, Utah, Oregon, Nebraska, Washington, UCLA and Wyoming.
He considers Oregon and Utah his favorites. His first scholarship offer came from BYU during his sophomore year but now he isn't sure whether that scholarship offer has been pulled.
"BYU is not really in the picture," he says.
Jared gives credit to Bingham head coach Dave Peck for having a tremendous impact on the way he plays on the field and for the way he is trying to live his life off the field.
"Really inspirational guy. Pushes me a lot. He tells me to keep my head straight," he says.
Jared has been suspended for the first two games of the season, including the rivalry game with Alta, for a violation of team rules. The violation occurred three days after winning last years state championship. One more mistake and Jared would have been asked to leave the program but he has kept the rules ever since and looks forward to getting back on the field in week 3.
"I messed up a couple times but Coach Peck was always there to tell me to get back on track and get my head straight," he says.
Once the suspension is behind him he hopes to lead the Miners to their third consecutive 5A state championship. They must follow the 2010 team which many consider to be the greatest high school football team in state history.
"We kind of just put it behind us and say we're a new team," Jared said. "We can't really live up to their expectations but we have to try our best."
Jared believes that winning a state championship this year would have more meaning to him.
"With this team it would mean much more, much more. Last year there was an expectation. This year you have to work hard, hard, and it's not just going to be there - a given."
Email: jjensen@ksl.com
Twitter: @JJSportsBeat
