Signing day: Vandal football lands top class in Big Sky Conference

From news services and local reports

After winning just four games this season and missing the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2021, the Idaho Vandals claimed a big victory of sorts on Wednesday. 

Idaho announced the signing of the highest-ranked class in the Big Sky Conference, the second-highest rated in FCS, and the highest-ranked class in program history per 247Sports. 

Thomas Ford Jr., who recently completed his first season as Idaho head coach, announced the signing of 20 players, 19 of them high school players (including a conference-best 17 three-star signees), and one junior college transfer. 

“I couldn't be more fired up about our 2026 class,” Ford said in a news release. “We developed deep relationships with these student-athletes and their families, some of which have spanned over two years. We are not only bringing in high-level athletes, but also high-character young men. This class has multiple prospects that had FBS offers but chose Idaho because they value our program’s culture and the relationships we've built. I'm proud of our coaching staff for the job they've done building the top class in the Big Sky. The future of Vandal football is very bright, and I won't be surprised to see some of these guys battling for playing time next fall.”

The two signees from Idaho high schools were wide receiver Dominic Wolthuis from Bishop Kelly and linebacker Nash O’Kelley from Timberline of Boise. 

The Vandals also signed Jerry Allen III, a cornerback from Rogers High in Spokane. 

Ford signed two quarterbacks — Blitz McCarty from Denver (Grandview High) and Britton DeWitt of Gilbert, Ariz. (American Leadership Academy). 

The complete class: 

Kingston Kerkhoff, 6-6, 265, OL, Curtis High (University Place, Wash.) 

Kenny Golston, 6-0, 216, RB, Valliant (Okla.) High 

Tay Mareko, 6-1, 215, LB, Lakes High (Lakewood, Wash.) 

Nui Meyers, 6-3, 220, EDGE, Kahuka High (Hau’ula, Hawaii) 

Landon Schrom, 6-2, 215, LB, Army & Navy Academy (Oceanside, Calif.) 

Ocean Taufa, 6-3, 265, DL, Bishop Gorman High (St. George, Utah) 

Blitz McCarty, 6-3, 200, QB, Granview High (Denver) 

Geovoney Burks, 6-1, 215, LB, Roosevelt High (Portland) 

Tristan Baker, 6-1, 190, WR, Lakes High (Lacey, Wash.) 

Omar Kaba, 6-4, 290, OL, Williams Field High (Mesa, Ariz.) 

Carter Paul, 6-7, 310, OL, Lakeridge High (Portland) 

Jace Winchester, 6-3, 290, OL, Dakota Ridge High (Littleton, Colo.) 

Luca Moore, 6-0, 185, S, Anacortes (Wash.) High 

Jerry Allen III, 6-2, 180, CB, Rogers High (Spokane) 

Ethan Rodriguez, 6-5, 220, ATH, Rochester (Wash.) High 

Jermell Green, 6-4, 175, CB, Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento, Calif.) 

JJ Homuth, 6-7, 230, TE, Rochester Community & Technical College (Burnsville, Minn.) 

Dominic Wolthuis, 6-1, 170, WR, Bishop Kelly High (Eagle) 

Britton DeWitt, 6-2, 195, QB, American Leadership Academy (Gilbert, Ariz.) 

Nash O’Kelley, 6-2, 210, LB, Timberline High (Boise) 

Washington State: Coach Jimmy Rogers announced the addition of 28 players, with 12 to enroll in January and practice in the spring. 

Drew Byrd, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end from Rocky Mountain High in Meridian, is expected on campus in January. Byrd helped the Grizzlies advance to the state 6A semifinals and caught 18 passes for 236 yards this season. 

Cooper Daines, a 6-5, 260-pound, offensive lineman from Mead High in Spokane, will also join the Cougars in spring 2027, after serving a mission for the LDS Church. Daines helped the Panthers to a 6-4 record and trip to the Washington state playoffs this season. 

Eastern Washington: Coach Aaron Best announced the signing of 16 players on Wednesday, including two running backs, two wide receivers and three offensive linemen. 

Eastern also added five Washington products to its incoming class, including Giulio Banchero, a wide receiver from O’Dea High in Seattle. He’s the brother of Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft. 

Boise State: The Broncos signed 29 players, including three from Idaho. 

Ryan Brekke, a tight end from Owyhee High in Meridian, is the No. 4 prospect in Idaho according to On3, 247Sports and ESPN. His father, Jim, played tight end at BSU from 1995-98. 

Rasean Jones, a wide receiver from Rocky Mountain High in Meridian, ran for 10 touchdowns, caught two TD passes and had five interceptions for the Grizzlies, who reached the state 6A semifinals before falling to eventual champion Rigby. He transferred this year from Baker High in Baker City, Ore., where he won three state titles each in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles. 

Rowan Rupp, a defensive tackle from Rocky Mountain, was the top-rated defensive lineman by On3, 247Sports and ESPN. 

The two quarterbacks signed are Cash Herrera from The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, Calif., who threw for 6,007 yards and 71 touchdowns in his career; and Jackson Taylor, from Thousand Oaks (Calif.) High, who threw for 7,986 yards and 84 touchdowns in his career.