Wednesday morning, Coeur d'Alene High seniors Chad Chalich and Deon Watson faxed in their letters of intent to play football at the University of Idaho, following up on their recent verbal commitments to the Vandals.

Hours later, Idaho coach Robb Akey raved about the current Vikings and future Vandals during a teleconference from Moscow to announce Idaho's 2012 recruiting class on National Signing Day.

Chalich, a quarterback and the two-time Idaho 5A player of the year, and Watson, a star wide receiver and defensive lineman, helped the Vikings win back-to-back state titles.

"Two great guys, two great kids, two great competitors, two very talented players," Akey said. "I can't tell you how proud I am that the best in Idaho has elected to stay and represent the University of Idaho."

Among other things, Akey said he was impressed with Chalich's competitiveness.

“Here’s a guy that’s 6-foot-1 and he also plays basketball and you think, ‘that guy must be the point guard, right?’” Akey said. “Well, go watch him play basketball ... he’s down there banging in the post. So that’s great competitiveness there, and that’s something you want to see in a guy that’s going to compete to be the leader of your offense.”

Chalich was one of two quarterbacks who signed with Idaho on Wednesday. The other was Austin DeCoud, a 6-3, 220-pounder from Redlands, Calif.

Four quarterbacks are already on the roster — Dominique Blackman, a junior college transfer who will be a junior this fall; Taylor Davis, who started a few games last year and will be a junior this year; Logan Bushnell, who has seen very limited action, and will be a senior this fall; and Lucas Graff, a freshman who redshirted in 2011. Former Lewiston High quarterback Justin Podrabsky was moved to tight end.

Blackman and Davis are expected to battle for the starting job this fall.

Akey said “hopefully” both Chalich and DeCoud will redshirt this fall, unless one is needed or earns the chance to play this fall.

“They both knew that we were going to bring in two quarterbacks with this class,” Akey said. “And they both had no problem at all.”

The 6-3 Watson was recruited as an “athlete,” meaning the Vandals have yet to decide on a position for him. He could play at wide receiver, or tight end, or on the defensive line, Akey said.

“He’s a guy I want on this football team; he’s a guy that’s going to be a good player,” Akey said.

Watson also has a desire to walk on to the Vandal basketball team. His dad, Deon, is Idaho’s career rebound leader, and ranks second all-time in blocked shots.

“And he’s going to get that opportunity (to play basketball) — as long as he takes care of his football stuff first,” Akey said. “And I know that he will.”

Akey hinted that some others from Coeur d’Alene High could end up walking on in Moscow.

“I would expect to see Coeur d’Alene (fans) down here,” Akey said. “I think it’s real important to get your home-state guys, especially the real close ones, to stay home.”

All told, Akey announced a signing class of 24 players, which included two quarterbacks, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, four offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, four linebackers, one cornerback, two safeties, one kicker and one “athlete.”

Of the 24, seven are junior college transfers.

“We’ve got a very well-rounded class,” Akey said. “All three phases of the game — offense, defense and a kicker — are a part of this class.”

Kicker Jace Johnson of Eagle was the third in-state signee by Akey. Trey Farquhar, who has kicked the past three seasons, will be a senior this fall.

Akey is looking for James Baker, a junior college transfer from Florida, and high school senior Trae Armstrong from Glendale, Ariz., to help kick-start a struggling running game from last year. Armstrong, who ran a 10.3 100 meters in high school, could help as early as this fall, Akey said.

Linebacker Russell Siavii from Hawaii is the younger brother of Vandal linebacker Robert Siavii, who will be a senior with the Vandals this fall.

Of junior college offensive linemen Semisi Tupou, conservatively listed at 380 pounds, Akey said, “At the very least, it’s going to take a day to run around the guy. But he moves very well.”

Akey also had praise for cornerback Jayshawn Jordan, from O’Dea High in Seattle, and said safety Ma’ne Manaea from Lakes High in Lakewood, Wash., reminds him of former Vandal safety Shiloh Keo — “and he might even have a little more suddeness to him,” Akey said. Manaea originally committed to Colorado, which went through a coaching change after the 2010 season.

To shore things up at wide receiver, Akey signed junior college wideouts Najee Lovett and Kyren Watts. Another wideout, Camryn Harris, grayshirted at Idaho last fall.

Another recruit who played quarterback in high school, Andrew Williams, is projected to play safety at Idaho.

Cranston Jones, one of the nation’s top-ranked cornerbacks who had verbally committed to Idaho, changed his mind and signed with New Mexico. Akey said he was on the phone with Jones as early as 4:15 a.m. PST on Wednesday, trying to keep him as a Vandal.

Akey said an “uncertainty over where our conference was headed” led Jones to change his mind.

But Akey said the loss of three offensive coaches — including the loss of offensive line coach John McDonnell last week to Tulane, during the same week four offensive linemen were visiting Idaho — did not cost the Vandals any recruits.

He said he hopes to name replacements for at least two of the three coaches as early as next week.

Akey said running back Troy Vital will not return to the Vandals this fall. Previously, he said wide receiver Preston Davis, who redshirted last fall with a knee injury, would not return for his senior season. Davis caught the winning two-point conversion pass in the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl.