Auckland Asiata (middle) speaks at his signing ceremony on Saturday, January 13. Asiata signed his letter of intent to play football for California State University, Fresno in the fall of 2024.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Sutter Union senior Auckland Asiata was swarmed by family, friends, teammates and coaches as he signed his national letter of intent (NLI) to commit to the California State University, Fresno for furthering his academic and athletic career playing football.

Asiata held a ceremony on Saturday, January 13, at the new GRIND:30 facility in Yuba City, and the family atmosphere was represented all over the facility.

Asiata expressed to the Dispatch that he chose Fresno State because it was the right fit and he believes the coaches can take him to another level.

Asiata had offers from many schools across the country that included the Ivy League and military academy schools, to name a few, but ultimately decided Fresno State was the place to call home for the four upcoming years.

During his speech at the ceremony, he showed love and appreciation to everyone in attendance and who has helped him throughout the time, but he showed the most appreciation to his mother, Jana.

Sutter senior Auckland Asiata (middle of table) celebrates with family and coaches at a signing ceremony at the new GRIND:30 facility on Saturday, January 13. Asiata signed his letter of intent to attend California State University, Fresno in the fall of 2024.

Jana expressed to the Dispatch that she is happy he is going to be closer to home but didn’t want to detour his decision on other offers.

Jana told the Dispatch she has been to everything of Auckland’s and wasn’t going to start missing anything now.

Jana added that she does want Auckland to keep growing as a great man and have fun in his time at Fresno State.

Auckland told the Dispatch that is he going into Fresno State as a defensive tackle when he arrives there, so he is in the process of trying to get bigger and stronger.

Sutter Head Football Coach Ryan Reynolds expressed multiple leadership words describing Auckland’s time in a Sutter football uniform and the classroom that included dedication and drive.

Reynolds expressed to the Dispatch that he is excited to see how Fresno State expands Auckland’s development from where he ended at Sutter through his entire career as a Bulldog.

“I can’t wait to see how they develop him,” Reynolds said.

Throughout Auckland’s 28 games in a Husky varsity uniform, he collected 185 total tackles, 53.0 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks.

Auckland will complete his last few months of enjoying being a high-school senior at Sutter before he moves onto Fresno in the summer.

Fresno State’s first game of the 2024 season is on the road on Saturday, August 31, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Michigan just won the 2023-24 College Football National Championship a couple weeks ago with a victory over Washington.

Sutter senior Auckland Asiata (44) makes a hit during the Huskies 19-14 loss to Twelve Bridges on October 12, 2023.