Pullman High School quarterback Mason Petrino signed a national letter of intent to play football for the University of Idaho this fall.
The son of Idaho head coach Paul Petrino verbally committed with the Vandals last week and officially signed with the team Wednesday morning.
“It’s kind of been a dream of mine, the whole time, to coach him one day,” Paul Petrino said. “It’s pretty special.”
The addition of Mason Petrino to the Vandals roster will likely provide the team with extended depth at the quarterback position.
Quarterback Matt Linehan earned the starting role for the Vandals last year and threw for 2,972 yards and 16 touchdowns during his sophomore season.
Freshman Jake Luton also saw some time on the field for Idaho, throwing for 403 yards and rushing for five touchdowns.
Mason Petrino will likely take the place of dual-threat Kareem Coles, who requested a release from the Vandal football program after seeing the field for just six games.
According to Sean Kramer of the Spokesman Review, Paul Petrino said in a December press conference that the program would attempt to sign an athletic quarterback who could possibly play other positions.
As a high school quarterback and cornerback, Mason Petrino appears to fit the description.
“He can throw it, he’s really accurate,” Paul Petrino said. “My brother has always said he thinks he’s a receiver. All those years I coached with my brother, (Mason) would be out there running drills with the receivers.”
Mason Petrino played in nine games for the Greyhounds last season and accumulated 1,992 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. The senior finished the year with a 106.4 quarterback rating.
The newly-signed prospect also ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns during the 2015 season.
Mason Petrino said that he will attempt to play either quarterback or wide receiver at the collegiate level in an interview with The Lewiston Tribune.
“I’m going to go in as a quarterback and just be an athlete after that,” Mason Petrino said.
Paul Petrino said he believes Mason Petrino will make his mark on the Vandal football program.
“Obviously he is my son and he will do great things here,” Paul Petrino said. “I have no doubt in my mind.”
Mason Petrino said that he does not know what major he will pursue in college, but the Vandal recruit told reporters he will be attempting to follow his father into a career as a football coach.
“It’s kind of the Petrino thing to do is be football coaches,” Mason Petrino said. “I always joke around with my dad and always say we drink Coke, we get history degrees in college and we’re football coaches.”
Josh Grissom can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @GoshJrissom