It’s been a fruitful two-day stretch for Utah State’s football program from a recruiting standpoint.
It started Sunday when soon-to-be Mountain View (Arizona) senior quarterback Brady Goodman announced his commitment to the Aggies on social media. Fellow class of 2026 high school recruit, Thunder Ridge (Idaho) tight end/edge rusher Preston McDaniel, announced his intention of becoming an Aggie on Monday on social media.
McDaniel’s recruitment has blown up over the past five months as he has received scholarship offers from several FBS programs, including Oklahoma State of the Big 12 Conference and Pittsburgh of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder tweeted out an offer from the Aggies last month and has also been offered by fellow Mountain West programs Fresno State, San Diego State, Nevada, Air Force and Wyoming. McDaniel has also tweeted out offers from Navy, Army, Tulsa and FCS programs Utah Tech and Dartmouth.
The Herald Journal was able to caught up with McDaniel on Monday about his commitment to the Aggies. What about USU ultimately appealed to the southeastern Idaho resident over his other offers?
“The love I felt the minute I was on campus was huge for me,” McDaniel said. “It was different than any other school I had been too. The culture that (USU head) coach (Bronco) Mendenhall is creating is exactly what I want to be a part of as well.”
McDaniel has received all of these aforementioned offers since February of this year, which has been a very gratifying for the former Thunder Ridge basketball player.
"It has been super cool to see my recruitment take off and it’s been nice to see some hard work pay off,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel is on track to be the second player from Thunder Ridge to sign with the Aggies over the past few years as Paul Fitzgerald excelled as an edge rusher during his time in Logan before transferring to Utah.
McDaniel has a close relationship with coach Oakley Hussey, a former USU player from the Idaho Falls area. Hussey starred at Hillcrest High.
"I have spent a lot of time with Oakley Hussey and he has had all good things to say about Utah State, and he thinks it’s a great fit for me,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel will take his official visit to USU this weekend. He has been in Cache Valley for a couple of unofficial visits, “but my most recent one was last month and that was my first time being around the new coaching staff, and it amazed me.”
The 3-star recruit by 247sports.com is coming off a strong junior season at Thunder Ridge as he led the Titans in receptions (41) and receiving yards (564) in just nine games. McDaniel found paydirt four times, to boot.
Two of McDaniel’s biggest games were against eventual 5A state finalists Hillcrest (champion) and perennial powerhouse Skyline. No. 85 came through with eight catches for 100 yards and a touchdown against Skyline, plus 125 yards and one TD on four receptions against Hillcrest.
Thunder Ridge competes in a very challenging district in Idaho’s 6A classification, which is the largest classification in the Gem State. Defending 6A champion Rigby is in Thunder Ridge’s district, as is 2023 state champ Highland and Madison.
Challenging the likes of Rigby and Highland is something McDaniel hopes to help the Titans accomplish during the 2025 campaign.
"My biggest goals for my senior year are to become the biggest leader I can and to lay the stepping stones out for this high school football program to be great,” McDaniel said.
What are the biggest strengths McDaniel feels he will bring to the Aggies?
"I believe my biggest strengths are my versatility,” he said. “I think I can be dominant wherever you put me on the field.”
McDaniel has yet to meet Goodman, but is looking forward to his first encounter with the signal caller, as well as “meeting my new teammates and bringing more (recruits) along with me.”
Like McDaniel, Goodman is a 3-star recruit, according to 247sports. The 6-4 quarterback also holds offers from fellow FBS programs Wyoming and North Texas, plus one from Northern Arizona.
Goodman was very efficient as a junior for Mountain View, which is located in Mesa, Arizona. The Toros went 12-2 last fall and went undefeated in their 6A region.
Goodman completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 3,087 yards — 220.5 an outing — and an impressive 43 touchdowns, vs. only four interceptions, in those 14 games. No. 5 was also a threat with his feet as he chipped in with 435 yards and 11 TDs on 79 rushing attempts. Goodman scored with his feet in 10 different outings for Mountain View.
The Toros were very balanced offensively a year ago as they averaged 226.0 yards an outing through the air and 207.9 yards on the ground.
“After a great official visit, I’m blessed to announce my commitment to Utah State,” Goodman posted Sunday on social media. “Thanks to the coaches for believing in me! Go Aggies!”
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