By Kirk Kern
Las Vegan Daniel Bellinger has proven he’s willing to go the extra mile in order to have a successful season as San Diego State’s tight end this coming season.
In fact, he was willing to go 170 miles.
Bellinger, a Palo Verde High graduate and now incoming junior at San Diego State, was recently interviewed on San Diego radio station XTRA 1360 where he mentioned that a couple weeks after the coronavirus quarantine hit, he relocated to Cedar City because gyms were open there.
“Everything was closed down (in Las Vegas),” he said. “I had nothing at my house to work out with, so I was using a backpack full of sand and water. It wasn’t enough to maintain my weight and strength.”
He went to Cedar City to visit his girlfriend and found that gyms were open there. So he got himself a membership and a place to stay and resumed his workout regime.
“My coaches always say we have to do what we have to do when no one is watching,” he said. “I will stay here as long as I need.”
Bellinger said strength coach Adam Hall sends workouts to follow each week and, so far, he’s been able to maintain his weight and strength.
“I was 210 when I first showed up (at San Diego State),” he said. “I’ve been able to put on 45 pounds since then.”
Bellinger is primed to take the starting tight end role this season after Parker Houston graduated this past season. The position has recently become a pipeline to the NFL as Kahale Waring is a member or the Houston Texans and Houston, from Reed High in Sparks, was recently signed by the Arizona Cardinals.
“Parker was one of the leaders,” he said. “He made sure we were on top of what we were doing. He was a big leader and mentor.”
The Aztecs have a new head coach and offensive coordinator, but Bellinger said the coaches and players have been staying in touch through zoom meetings and should be ready to go when allowed to get back on campus for practice.
So far, the earliest date to get back on Montezuma Mesa is July 7.
“I can’t wait to get out there with my teammates,” he said. “It’s so much fun going out there and competing, catching ball sand talking smack with the defense.”
Besides working out, Berlinger has also learned how to cook during his time in Cedar City. He said he cooks a lot of salmon and “I make some really good french toast.”