By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

Idaho football coach Paul Petrino said the Vandals got faster and better on Wednesday, announcing the signing of eight junior college players - two defensive linemen, two offensive linemen, two linebackers and two defensive backs - to letters of intent for the 2014 season.

They are Glen Antone (6-3 1/2, 325 pounds), a defensive tackle from Highland (Kan.) Community College; Kato Fawkes (6-4, 305), an offensive lineman from Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Max Martian (6-4, 305), a defensive lineman from Iowa Western; Daniel Peterson (6-0, 175), a linebacker from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College; Irving Steele (6-1, 220), a linebacker from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa; Doyin Sule (6-2, 190), a defensive back from Santa Ana (Calif.( College; Jeff Travillion (6-3, 300), an offensive lineman from Highland Community College; and Marquis Walker-Hatcher (5-11, 195), a cornerback from Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Calif.

"I think all eight have a chance to come in here and compete from the start," Petrino said. "The Idaho Vandals got a lot better today. Those were all places where we felt we needed to improve."

Antoine was described as a "run stopper" by Petrino. Martial "has good quickness; can play the run and rush the passer well. It's good to get those two big guys inside on defense; I think they'll help us a lot."

Fawkes, who will play strong guard at Idaho, has only played football for a couple of years, and "just has all kinds of potential," Petrino said. Travillion "is probably as athletic an offensive lineman as we saw out there," and could play guard or tackle.

At linebacker, Steele is "a 4.5 guy that can really run and fly and make plays all over the field," Petrino said. Peterson "has great speed, so that's two (JC) linebackers that can really run; that will help us increase our team speed at the linebacker position."

Sule, a safety, is "definitely a big-time hitter," Petrino said. "He'll be an enforcer in the secondary." Wallace-Hatcher, a cornerback, "played a lot of press man (coverage), they put him on an island a lot. He's a good tackler out in space, aggressive, does a good job getting after receivers."

Petrino said the Vandals hope to have either 20 or 21 players signed total from this recruiting class by national signing day on Feb. 5. In addition to high school players, Petrino said Idaho plans to go after a JC running back, one or two JC receivers and possibly a JC defensive end.

All eight players whose signings were announced Wednesday by Idaho will be in Moscow in time for spring practice, Petrino said.

He also said the Vandals may sign a kicker to take some of the kicking load off of Austin Rehkow. As a true freshman this past fall, Rehkow handled kicking and punting duties, and has hauled in numerous national honors for his punting.