Utah State has received a verbal commitment from Thunder Ridge High School (ID) tight end Preston McDaniel. McDaniel is 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and will join the Aggies for the 2026 season
As a junior last season with the Titans, McDaniel started in all 9 games and snagged 41 passes for 564 yards and 4 touchdowns. His squad finished with a record of 3-9.
According to 247sports, coming out of Thunder Ridge High School (ID), McDaniel was rated as the 82nd-best tight end nationally, and the 8th-best player in the State of Idaho. McDaniel chose the Aggies over offers from Air Force, Army, Dartmouth, Fresno State, Navy, Nevada, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Tulsa, Utah Tech, and Wyoming.
McDaniel becomes the fourth commitment for the Aggies recruiting class of 2026, joining Canyon High (TX) running back Jackson Regan, Episcopal High (VA) defensive tackle Curtis “Tiki” Bell, and Mountain View High (AZ) quarterback Brady Goodman.