Twenty-four of the available 25 recruiting spots are filled, and Idaho football coach Robb Akey announced the class of 2012 on Wednesday. Here are our grades for the newest Vandals.
Trae Armstrong
RB, Deer Valley High School, Glendale, Ariz.
Akey said he has potential to be an Olympic trials contender. At 5-9, 185, he has the build and speed of a Princeton McCarty.
Grade: B-
Chad Chalich
QB, Coeur d’Alene High School, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
The talk of Idaho during fall and winter committed to UI early. People compare Chalich to Kellen Moore but watching his highlight videos, he looks to have the scrambling ability Moore lacks. The two-time Idaho 5A state champion will bring fans to the Dome on Saturdays but may redshirt his freshman year.
Grade: B
Austin DeCoud
QB, Redlands East Valley High School, Redlands, Calif.
DeCoud is taller and stronger than Chalich but less likely to redshirt. Idaho has had success in Redlands with Andre Ferguson, Trey Farquhar and Gary Walker so expect the same from DeCoud, who could be a reliable back-up to Chalich when the time comes.
Grade: C
Jace Johnson
K, Eagle High School, Eagle, Idaho
Akey stressed Johnson’s athleticism during the press conference and hinted he was an athlete before a kicker. He’ll take over when Farquhar graduates and can also fill in as a receiver. Johnson was an All-Idaho 5A first team kicker and converted 57-58 PAT’s as a high school senior.
Grade: B-
Jayshawn Jordan
CB, O’Dea High School, Seattle, Wash.
Jordan came from an extremely competitive high school in O’Dea and was the defensive MVP at the Northwest Elite Football Camp. He’s also shown true athleticism and signed with Idaho after verbally committing to Wyoming and talking with Washington State.
Grade: C
Eric Lemke
TE, Issaquah High School, Issaquah, Wash.
Just about every school in the Northwest had contacted Lemke, who will provide depth at the tight end position and have the ability to learn from Taylor Elmo and Mike LaGrone. At 6-4, 225 he’s an all-around player who will be able to block, catch and run. Lemke is Idaho’s only three-star signee.
Grade: B
Ma`ne Manaea
S, Lakes High School, Lakewood, Wash.
Akey pronounced Manaea a “hidden gem” and someone who resembles former Vandal Shiloh Keo. First though, he pronounced his name, “MA-nay-ah, not MAN-ay.” Akey said he’ll be a “hard-hitting” safety and was one of the top players in the Northwest.
Grade: A-
Matthew Neal
DT, Merrillville High School, Merrillville, Ind.
Neal has good size for a defensive tackle and comes from a family that is well acquainted with football. His brother Michael Neal Jr. plays for the Green Bay Packers and his father Michael Neal Sr. played with Akey at Weber State.
Grade: D
Kyree Oliver
OL, Heritage High School, Brentwood, Calif.
Akey hopes Oliver will be a “great part of the future of the offensive line.” He played in the California all-star game as a senior and stated he will fit in well at Idaho. His solid 6-5, 292 frame will fit in well with an already big O-line.
Grade: D+
Addison Palomino
LB, Pinnacle High School, Phoenix, Ariz.
Palomino lacks size but exhibits a great sense of speed for a linebacker. He recorded 86 tackles as a senior in Arizona, and Idaho was one of the first schools to show interest in him.
Grade: D
Antonio Perez
DE, Sheldon High School, Elk Grove, Calif.
Akey stressed Perez’s burst ability. He is a decently sized defensive end who was talking with Army and Nevada, two schools that also gave him offers. He was a scholar-athlete at Sheldon and has expressed that he looks forward to the Moscow weather, despite being from Northern California.
Grade: D+
Elijah Sala
LB, LA Harbor College/Banning High School, Wilmington, Calif.
Sala set a school record with an 89-yard interception return and earned all-California first-team defensive honors in 2011. Akey hopes he’ll be able to compete for a position immediately and as a sophomore, Sala tallied 42 tackles, five for a loss, two sacks and five interceptions.
Grade: C
Russell Siavii
LB, Leilehua High School, Wahiawa, Hawai`i
Brother of current Vandal Rob Siavii, Russell may share a similar style of play. Akey hopes Russell will make an immediate impact and he plans on seeing two Siavii’s on the field at the same time this fall. Russell Siavii was first-team all-state at Leilehua.
Grade: C+
Semisi Tupou
OL, East Central/Cerritos/Orange HS, Long Beach, Calif.
“It’ll take a day just to run around that guy,” Akey said of the 6-5, 400-pound Tupou. The California native is expected to compete for a starting spot right away. Idaho has had success with huge, Polynesian offensive linemen in the past (Mike Iupati, San Francisco) and Tupou’s size could cause opposing defensive lines major problems.
Grade: B-
Toapasi Toki
DT, Chabot JC/Kaelekehe High School, Kaelekehe, Hawai`i
Toki is another recruit who will be able to compete for a spot immediately and coaches are excited about his size and burst off the ball. Toki had success during high school and at Chabot, where he helped his team clinch a divisional championship.
Grade: C-
Deon Watson
ATH, Coeur d’Alene High School, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Watson and Chalish may be a lethal combo in the WAC when Chalich’s time comes. The two played on the same state championship Vikings team in CDA and Watson hopes to play basketball for Idaho coach Don Verlin as well. Listed as an athlete, Watson will likely play tight end or defensive end and he was a first-team all-state receiver in addition to a second-team all-state defensive end.
Grade: C
Kyren Watts
WR, College of Siskiyous/New Waverly HS, New Waverly, Texas
As the only Texas native on this year’s list of signees, Akey expects to see Watts on the field this fall. As a sophomore at College of the Siskiyous, he made 40 receptions for 700 yards with nine touchdowns.
Grade: C+
Matthew Willis
LB, LA Harbor/Palos Verdes HS, Palos Verdes, Calif.
Willis played with Sala at LA Harbor and was talking with San Jose State and Utah State. Willis previously played at the Air Force Academy and was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Central West Conference.
Grade: B-
Andrew Williams
S, Cosumnes Oaks High School, Elk Grove, Calif.
Williams will play safety in Moscow but he was a dual-threat quarterback during his time at Oaks High School. He was Idaho’s first commit and has the speed to be a successful safety. At the quarterback position, Williams ran for 1,042 yards on 174 carries with 12 touchdowns.
Grade: D-
Mason Woods
OL, Terry Fox Secondary, Maple Ridge, B.C.
At 6-8, Woods has incredible size and will transition nicely to American football after playing for Terry Fox Secondary in British Columbia. He was a team captain and all-state selection and notched 30 tackles with eight sacks. Woods played three years for the Langley Minor Football club team.
Grade: D+