NFL Draft Preview: Utah Defensive End Jason Fanaika

Utah defensive end Jason Fanaika speaks with reporters at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine. - Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY SportsMeet Jason Fanaika, a 6’3", 270 pound defensive end from Pleasant Grove, Utah. He began his collegiate career in 2010 at Utah State playing under then coach Gary Andersen, who is now the head man at Oregon State. After two seasons with the Aggies, Fanaika left for Indianapolis to serve his LDS Church mission, though it was short-lived due to his father’s colon cancer diagnosis. He felt it was his duty to discontinue his assignment and head back to Utah to be with his family. Upon his return to the Beehive State, he put football on the back burner to help out at home. After not receiving much interest on his quest back to the gridiron, Jason decided to walk onto the University of Utah football team where he red-shirted in 2013.

…