CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho football coach
Mike Moroski has announced the signing of 15 additional recruits to Frontier Conference Letters of Intent for the upcoming 2018 season.
The group includes six players on the offensive side of the ball; 13 true freshmen players; and three players from the Gem State.
All three Idaho players will compete for positions on the defensive side of the ball – with defensive back Nick Fox (6-0, 170, Fr.) coming off back to back 4A All-State team selections. Fox, from Vallivue High, earned USA Today All-Idaho honors as a senior – recording eight interceptions, returning a pair for touchdowns.
Defensive lineman Austin Manolis (5-10, 255, Fr.) was a part of the 5A state championship team last fall at Highland High in Pocatello, while defensive end Mykah Weaver (6-0, 220, Fr.) earned All-High Country Conference honors at Madison High in Rexburg and was a three-sport athlete.
C of I will add to their depth at the quarterback position – as a junior transfer and a freshmen will join the squad this fall.
Gage Ferguson (6-2, 220, Jr.) was an All-South Puget Sound League selection at Curtis High in Washington before throwing for over 3,000 yards in his career at College of the Siskiyous. As a sophomore, Ferguson threw for 1,869 yards and 16 touchdowns.
A.J. Bernhardt (6-2, 160, Fr.) heads to Caldwell from Dixon High in California, where he was an All-Golden Empire League pick. Bernhardt, also a baseball standout, tossed for 1,906 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior.
Freshman running back Antoine Paul (5-8, 160, Fr.) looks to make an immediate impact for the Yotes –Paul, from Ontario High in California, averaged nearly 10 yards a carry over his final two high school seasons – earning All-Mount Baldy Conference honors after rushing for 2,592 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Three players will join the receiving group in 2018 – including speedy Isaiah Veal (6-1, 175, Fr.) of Bishop Diego High in Santa Barbara, Calif. The All-Tri Valley League pick helped BDHS win the CIF 3-AA state championship, catching 16 passes for 572 yards and 10 touchdowns and has been clocked at 10.87 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He will be joined by international player, Dylan Reed, from Amsterdam, Netherlands, along with bruising tight end Anatol Skylar (6-4, 250, Jr.) from Diablo Valley College.
On the defensive side, Levi Russo-Bell (6-1, 230, Fr.) keys a group of linemen heading to C of I. The end, from Cedar Park High in Texas, was the 5A Region 19 Defensive Lineman of the Year after recording 79 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior – while winning the 5A 220-pound wrestling state title. He will be joined by fellow end Ben Poplin (6-0, 230, Fr.) of North Beach High in Washington, who earned All-Southwest Conference honors on both sides of the ball, along with Kaden Youssef (6-1, 270, Fr.) of Bishop Moore Catholic High in Florida.
The Yotes will add a pair of solid freshmen linebackers to the mix in Mikhail Varetskiy (6-2, 225, Fr.) and Mack Roesner (6-2, 220, Fr.). Varetskiy was a 3A All-State selection on both sides of the ball at Ferndale High in Washington, helping his team to the state semifinals; while Roesner was the Marin County Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year at Marin Catholic High in California, racking up consecutive seasons with over 100 tackles.
Speedy defensive back Isaiah Abdul (5-9, 160, Fr.) will make an immediate impact this fall after two outstanding years at Camas High in Washington. Abdul was a two-time All-Greater Saint Helens League pick and an All-Southwest Region selection, helping CHS to the 2016 4A state title.
