Van Fillinger Is ‘Very Confident’ In Decision To Sign With Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah received a commitment from the second highest rated player in the state in Corner Canyon defensive end Van Fillinger.

After the four-star prospect signed with the Utes on the first day of the early signing period on Wednesday, he was very confident in his decision to join Utah.

“Once I really started to check out Utah and knew what their whole program was about, I am very confident in this decision,” Fillinger said.

The Utah native originally committed to Texas back on July 18, 2019 before de-committing on December 1, 2019. He told the media why he decided to not join the Longhorns.

“A lot going on behind the scenes with both schools that I needed to do more research on and once I started to do more research I felt a little more uneasy on the Texas side and I felt more confident with Utah,” Fillinger stated. “The more I visit Utah the more confident that I am. I am just really excited to be a Ute.”

Van Fillinger is signing with Utah. @van_filli #GoUtes #NSD20 pic.twitter.com/G3VLWCoeB6

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 18, 2019

Fillinger went on his official visit the weekend before the early signing period and that visit solidified his decision to sign with the Utes.

“I have been on campus more than once at least,” Fillinger mentioned. “I have been there a good amount of times. But, I think that visit was really big on just seeing a little more in-depth and getting to know the players because I didn’t know too many players up there personally but this visit was just to see how I fit in with them and I fit in really well with them, I really like the players up there, it was a pretty big part because I wouldn’t commit if I wasn’t sure and that was a good way of making it for sure.”

Being the No. 11 defensive end prospect, Fillinger has high expectations for himself entering his freshman season with Utah.

“My goal is to start early and to make an impact right away,” Fillinger declared. “It’s obviously going to take a lot of work, I am not going to expect to get something that I don’t earn, so this offseason, I am going to go really hard and try to get as prepared as I can.”

Being closer to home was a positive for Fillinger but not the deciding factor.

“If Utah was anywhere else in the nation, they would be the best fit for me I can confidently say that,” Fillinger said. “I was comfortable going out of state but, it only helps that now I have the connections with everyone else, my coaches, my family is still here, my friends. It’s pretty cool that it is close by.”

Other than Texas and Utah, Fillinger had one official visit during his recruitment and that was with LSU. He thought about taking his other official visits but decided not to.

“After my official visit,” said Fillinger. “I was deciding if I wanted to sign late and go on my other official visits but I decided if I know I am going to go here (to Utah) there is no point in putting on a fake and act like I am interested in other schools. That’s not me either, I can’t act fake for people and they would know that I wasn’t interested so I figured I would sign early and start getting prepared right away.”

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