Idaho loads up on linemen, tight ends for a total of 28 signees

Dec. 20—MOSCOW, Idaho — Following a Football Championship Subdivision recipe for success coach Jason Eck said was invented by nine-time national champion North Dakota State and adopted by defending national champion South Dakota State, Idaho loaded up on linemen and tight ends among the 28 freshmen it announced in early recruiting Wednesday.

Idaho took six offensive linemen, four defensive linemen and four tight ends.

The Vandals hit on two of three recruiting targets in Spokane, wide receiver Aaron Kinsey (6-foot, 185 pounds) of Rogers High, and defensive back Jayden Wilkinson (6-0, 188) of East Valley High). Idaho lost out on one unnamed player to Eastern Washington, Eck said.

Idaho signed 10 players from Washington, five from Idaho and four from Oregon. This is in line with a goal to make the Northwest its recruiting base, Eck said.

Among notable additions is running back Markhi McKinnon (5-11, 215) of Desert Edge High School. In a Phoenix area league, he rushed for 1,789 yards as a junior to be Arizona’s leading high school runner. Playing only eight games as a senior, he ran for 1,000 yards to lead Desert Edge to a second-place finish in the state championship.

“He’s a big, physical guy and can run through tackles,” Eck said.

Among the offensive line recruits, Idaho signed three-star tackle Nathan Knapik (6-7, 250) of Kennewick High. He is the brother of Vandals’ All-Big Sky Conference honorable mention offensive lineman Ayden Knapik. He received an offer from Washington State.

Idaho also signed Sone Falealo (6-6, 290) of West Anchorage (Alaska) High; Gabe Staszak (6-6, 265) of South Medford (Oregon) High; and Ryan Kawalek (6-3, 285) of La Center (Washington) High.

The Vandals checked a pair of recruiting goals with twin brothers Gus (6-4, 215) and Wiley (6-3, 215) Donnerberg of West Linn (Oregon). Gus is a tight…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/idaho-loads-linemen-tight-ends-045900190.html

Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Publish date : 2023-12-21 04:59:00

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