There was no dilemma for 2007 East Union High alumnus Dustin Pfaff.
Following two successful seasons with Modesto Junior College’s football team, the 6-foot, 290-pound offensive lineman attracted many offers from small four-year universities.
But when Sacramento State offered a partial scholarship he didn’t flinch.
Pfaff, who is still receiving offers from other schools, leaves for Sacramento today after friends, family, former coaches and teammates bade him farewell Friday night at Mikasa Japanese Bistro in Lathrop.
Pfaff joins former Sierra High track and football star Avery White, a 2008 graduate and redshirt freshman that plays the linebacker position.
“I want to play Division I football no matter where it is, but I also had to like where I was going to be at,” Pfaff said. “I like what I see at Sac State and I like the coaches. It seems like they have something good going on, and I want to be a part of it.”
The Hornets were 6-6 overall (3-5 in the Big Sky Conference) in 2008, marking just the fourth time since 1993 that they won at least half of their games.
Pfaff will compete for the starting center job but could also see some time at guard for third-year head coach Marshall Sperbeck.
“I don’t have ideal size for an offensive lineman — they know it and I know it,” he said. “But they said that I have a good motor and a good work ethic.”
And that translated into success in his two years at MJC, where he was named to the all-Golden Gate Conference first team and California Community College Football Coaches Association Region II All-State First Team his sophomore year.
With Pfaff anchoring the line, the Pirates went undefeated in conference play in both 2007 and 2008 (11-8 overall). MJC defeated Sacramento City College in the 2008 Graffiti Bowl.
Pfaff attributes the team’s success to his rising stock.
“It was a fun experience,” he said. “I was able to get a little more recognition there. I learned a whole new style of football and became more well-rounded.”
Pfaff is a communications major and plans to pursue a master’s in kinesiology.
“I want to stay at Sac State as a graduate assistant,” Pfaff said. “I want to be a football coach, either an offensive line coach or strength and conditioning coach, at the highest level I can be at.”
Following two successful seasons with Modesto Junior College’s football team, the 6-foot, 290-pound offensive lineman attracted many offers from small four-year universities.
But when Sacramento State offered a partial scholarship he didn’t flinch.
Pfaff, who is still receiving offers from other schools, leaves for Sacramento today after friends, family, former coaches and teammates bade him farewell Friday night at Mikasa Japanese Bistro in Lathrop.
Pfaff joins former Sierra High track and football star Avery White, a 2008 graduate and redshirt freshman that plays the linebacker position.
“I want to play Division I football no matter where it is, but I also had to like where I was going to be at,” Pfaff said. “I like what I see at Sac State and I like the coaches. It seems like they have something good going on, and I want to be a part of it.”
The Hornets were 6-6 overall (3-5 in the Big Sky Conference) in 2008, marking just the fourth time since 1993 that they won at least half of their games.
Pfaff will compete for the starting center job but could also see some time at guard for third-year head coach Marshall Sperbeck.
“I don’t have ideal size for an offensive lineman — they know it and I know it,” he said. “But they said that I have a good motor and a good work ethic.”
And that translated into success in his two years at MJC, where he was named to the all-Golden Gate Conference first team and California Community College Football Coaches Association Region II All-State First Team his sophomore year.
With Pfaff anchoring the line, the Pirates went undefeated in conference play in both 2007 and 2008 (11-8 overall). MJC defeated Sacramento City College in the 2008 Graffiti Bowl.
Pfaff attributes the team’s success to his rising stock.
“It was a fun experience,” he said. “I was able to get a little more recognition there. I learned a whole new style of football and became more well-rounded.”
Pfaff is a communications major and plans to pursue a master’s in kinesiology.
“I want to stay at Sac State as a graduate assistant,” Pfaff said. “I want to be a football coach, either an offensive line coach or strength and conditioning coach, at the highest level I can be at.”
