The weekly Friday segment with Jan Jorgensen on 750 AM and 98.3 FM has become a morning staple for many Carbon County residents.

But Castle County Radio news director Ryan Falk didn't realize just how popular the spot was until he missed interviewing Jorgensen one week and heard about it from the listeners.

"We are a small town and I usually don't get many responses to anything we do," Falk said. "But when Jan wasn't on, I had like six or seven e-mails wondering what was going on. For here, that's a lot."

The pride of Helper - population 1,749 - Jorgensen has given his hometown several reasons to hang on every word and cheer for every play.

As the anchor of BYU's young defensive line, the sophomore defensive end is a fitting representative of his blue-collar community in leading the team in sacks (3) and tackles for a loss (5 1/2 ).

"When you come from a small town I think it means a lot more for me to be here and means a lot more to those people here just because it doesn't happen too often," Jorgensen said. "In a big city, you just blend in with a group. But in a small town, it's nice to have a good support system like I do."

The significance has taken on an even greater meaning since the Crandall Canyon mine disaster in Price last month. Although Jorgensen knows sports is trivial in comparison, he hopes his play might provide a brief diversion from the grief.

"That is really all I can do for those people," the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Jorgensen said. "It definitely hit home with me, and it's sad for anybody who lived there. My prayers and thoughts are with them all the time."

A multi-sport star at Carbon High, Jorgensen has always thrived in stressful situations whether it's pitching a no-hitter in the Little League playoffs or dominating a top-ranked opponent to capture a state high school wrestling title.

Soft-spoken off the field, Jorgensen lives up to his "Janimal" nickname once he steps inside the lines, attacking quarterbacks with the same fervor as he does his mother's sausage crepes and Cream O'Weber chocolate milk.

"Last year I kind of had trouble with that personality. Somebody had to make me or something had to happen to get that way," Jorgensen said. "This year, I am like that from the start and can get going on my own."

Jorgensen's competitive nature and goal-oriented focus extends to all aspects of life. When Jorgensen was on his LDS mission, his parents visited him in Idaho during Christmas. They were given 30 minutes, and Jorgensen brought his own stopwatch.

"When you say this is the rule, he goes by it and I think it shows in his football," said Jorgensen's father Jeff. "If he wasn't such a disciplined player he wouldn't be very good."

But bringing his skills to BYU was hardly in the master plan.

BYU hatred was a Jorgensen family trait. JorgenÂsen's father played at Utah State and his older brother J.D. was a tight end for Utah.

Jorgensen grew up attending Utah football camps, and when BYU recruiting letters arrived in the mail, he ripped them to shreds before even opening them.

Jorgensen signed to play at Kentucky - where former Utah and current Weber State coach Ron McBride was the linebackers coach - but had a change of heart during his mission.

"I knew BYU was the best place for me, and there was nothing bad I could say about it," Jorgensen said. "So I just kind of humbled myself and did what was right."

Breaking the news to his father wasn't as easy. JorgenÂsen's mother warned her husband about their son's decision the night before it became official.

"Jeff just walked around saying, 'I can't have a son that goes to BYU. I just can't,' '' Julie Jorgensen said.

But now?

"I am just so pleased," he said. BYU head coach "Bronco [Mendenhall] is helping my kid be more than a just good football player, but be a great father and person."

Whenever Jorgensen returns to Carbon County, he can hardly go anywhere without drawing attention. Even former rivals at Emery, Delta and Price are interested in his progress.

Sean Watkins, Jorgensen's best friend since kindergarten, has gotten used to sharing his buddy with the masses at restaurants, movie theaters and football games.

"It's crazy how many people want to talk to him," Watkins said. "But he is just Jan Jorgensen, and everybody loves Jan Jorgensen here."

rpotkey@sltrib.com

Jorgensen's stats

Season Games Tackles TFL/Yds QBH Sacks

2006 13 34 5/30 2 5

2007 4 23 5.5/33 4 3

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