Idaho coach Jason Eck is optimistic despite only signing 17 players

Dec. 4 – MOSCOW, Idaho – On the first day of the early signing period, Idaho added 17 football freshmen, the smallest class in coach Jason Eck’s three years with the Vandals.

The group can be expanded to include several additional players who have until Friday to commit to a school. Eck said he isn’t forced to amass a large roster roster because Idaho has so few seniors, unlike a year when the Vandals signed 38 players.

“We want to maintain a certain degree of flexibility with the (transfer) portal,” said Eck.

The latest vandals include several that immediately stand out.

“I’m happy about this course,” said Eck.

That includes players like 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back Colin “CJ” McBean from Junipero Serra High School in Long Beach, Calif., and Toa Faavae, a 6-1, 200-pound quarterback from De La Salle High School in Martinez, California.

Eck compared McBean to current All-Big Sky Conference defensive back Andrew Marshall.

“When we signed Andrew Marshall, I knew right away we were getting a Division I player,” Eck said. “CJ is the same way.”

Faavae, a cousin of former Idaho linebacker Faavae Faavae, led his high school team to three consecutive championships and rushed for more than 2,000 yards in an option offense. In track and field he ran the 100 meters in 10.5 seconds.

“Toa will immediately be the best athlete in our quarterback room,” Eck said. “He’s really, really fast. He’s a freak.”

Although Faavae did most of his work as a runner, Eck said Idaho coaches were confident he had a more than adequate arm after watching him throw.

Although the Vandals didn’t sign anyone from the Spokane area, they did pick up a local prospect in 6-0 170-pound Sawyer Hewitt from Kendrick High School. While Hewitt has to switch from 8-man to 11-man football, state champion Kendrick is dominant in his division.

“I made sure to get a guy out of this program, but it had to be the right guy,” Eck said.

The Vandals will likely use Hewitt as a receiver, Eck said.

From Eck’s home state of Wisconsin, Idaho signed Blake Ryan, a 6-4, 270-pound center from Middleton High School.

The Vandals signed six players from Idaho, five from Washington, three from California and one each from Wisconsin, Oregon and Arizona.

Joining McBean and Faavae is Jonathan Cravin Jr., a 5-11, 190-pound defensive back from Junipero Serra High in Lakewood, California. The Vandals see him as a cornerback.

From Idaho, in addition to Hewitt, the Vandals brought in Shepard Fish, a 6-4, 240-pound defensive lineman from Capital High School in Boise; Jack Giannini, a 6-0, 205-pound linebacker from Eagle High School; Mason Krahn, a 6-2, 220-pound defensive lineman from Skyview High in Nampa; Caden Siegner, a 6-2, 225-pound defensive lineman from Owyhee High in Meridian; and Nate Williams, a 6-4, 245-pound defensive lineman from Eagle High.

Eck called Williams “a big, physical kid” and compared Krahn to current starting linebacker Zach Johnson.

Idaho typically eagerly recruits from the Northwest, and Eck said he’s looking forward to picking up the contingent from Washington and Oregon.

The Washington group includes Harrison DeShazer, a 6-5, 230-pound defensive lineman from Washougal High School; JoJo Matautia, a 5-11, 285-pound center from Eastside Catholic High; Casey Larson, a 6-2, 200-pound linebacker from Woodinville High; Jamar Tasi, a 6-2, 300-pound offensive lineman from Roosevelt High in Seattle; and Cody Thumlert, a 6-3, 220-pound defensive lineman from Eastside Catholic High

Idaho also signed 6-0, 190-pound wide receiver Zhaiel Smith from Tualatin (Oregon) High.

Brody Michael, 6-0, 205, is a linebacker from American Leadership Academy in Queen Creek, Arizona. His team reached the semifinals of the state championship.

Even though he isn’t particularly tall for the position, Eck said Michael is “a tough little football player. A striker. A hitter.”