Vandal football lands top class in Big Sky Conference

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 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, Grandview 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)