Aaron Boesch, a 2011 graduate of Oak Harbor High School, saw one of his dreams come true when he signed a letter of intent last week to play football for San Diego State University.

Boesch hoped to play Division I football but received no offers out of high school. His journey to SDSU started, he said, “with me going to an Under Armour Combine at Santa Monica (Junior) College as one last chance to try and get noticed.”

The coaches of the host school did notice and invited Boesch to play for their squad, changing his plan to walk-on at Arizona State University.

Playing for Santa Monica, Boesch earned all-league and all-state honors at tight end and got the attention of several major universities. He went on recruiting trips to Florida International and the University of Miami, but wanted to stay closer to home. He was about the sign with UC-Davis, a football championship subdivision school, when San Diego State called and offered a scholarship.

Boesch said, “I felt as if SDSU was the best fit for my style of play…I got along great with the coaches and players.” He said he was also impressed with the academic advisors and their emphasis on education.

“To tell you the truth,” Boesch said, “before I graduated high school I thought there was going to be no hope to play the sport that I love, having no offers. Then one phone call and the decision to go down to Santa Monica really changed how everything worked out.”

San Diego State opens next season in Seattle against the University of Washington.