By Andrea Nixon

MENDON -- Born and raised in Cache Valley, football fanatic Ryan Bohm grew up watching the Aggies.

Now he's going to play for them.

Bohm announced early last week that he's decided to join the Utah State University football team. His commitment will become official Feb. 6, the NCAA's national signing day.

According to his father, Bohm was contacted by 65 schools but in the end his decision boiled down to Dartmouth and USU.

"I think it was a harder decision for him than he lets on," said Lance Bohm.

Bohm visited the campuses of both schools and said USU "felt like the right place." He has been impressed by Utah State's continued interest and mentioned the Aggies offered him a scholarship after his junior year, keeping in contact with him ever since.

Bohm also said he felt USU had the most to offer in terms of an all-around package -- the chance to play Division I football, a strong scholastic reputation, and a good environment Bohm is used to.

Deciding where to go is nothing new to Bohm. Halfway through his freshman year of high school his family moved from Logan to Mendon, which placed him within district boundaries to attend Mountain Crest High School in Hyrum. His mother, Brenda, says her son debated on whether to continue attending Logan High or to switch to Mountain Crest.

"Most of the kids he played (football) with since Little League were at Logan," she said. "So he decided to stay."

The Grizzlies were probably glad he did. As a junior, Bohm was chosen as Player of the Year by The Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News, and The Herald Journal after leading Logan to the 4-A state championship.

This year the Grizzlies made it to the semifinals and Bohm was a first-team all-state selection. He was also Region 4's offensive MVP.

While Bohm played quarterback and defensive back his senior year of high school, he will likely play free safety for USU. Bohm said it doesn't matter what position he plays as long as he gets to keep on playing.

"I love playing football," he said. "Playing in college has always been a dream of mine, and now IĈm going to live that dream."

Not for a while, though. Bohm, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has decided to put his dream on hold for two years while he fulfills another goal of his -- serving a full-time mission.

"I made the decision a long time ago that if the opportunity to play college ball came up, I wouldn't let that come before my mission," Bohm said.

Bohm will turn in his LDS mission papers in August. He plans to begin his football career with USU when he returns in 2005.

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