16 Idaho football players were part of early signing day. Here’s where they’re headed
The highest-rated recruit in Idaho football history, Burley wide receiver Gatlin Bair — a former Boise State commit — plans to wait until February to make his college decision. But 16 of the state’s best high school players put pen to paper Wednesday on the first signing day of the 2024 football recruiting class.
Here’s where they are headed.
Rakeem Johnson
College: Michigan State
Position: Offensive line
High school: Bishop Kelly
Idaho’s No. 2-ranked recruit, according to 247 Sports, originally committed to Oregon State. But the three-star prospect followed former Beavers coach Jonathan Smith and offensive line coach Jim Michalczik when they moved to Michigan State.
“The coaches there, I already knew them,” Johnson said. “The resources, and the fan base — they have a great fan base. It’s a great opportunity, so I really had to take it.”
Johnson (6-3, 265 pounds) capped his senior year as a first-team All-Idaho offensive and defensive lineman after leading Bishop Kelly to a perfect season and a 4A state title.
Trevor McKenna
College: Boise State
Position: Defensive line
High school: Borah
The lifelong Boise State fan stayed home, committing to the Broncos back in January. McKenna (6-5, 250) started both ways for Borah the past three years. The three-star recruit racked up 90 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and a 5A-leading 16 sacks this fall to make the All-Idaho first team as a senior.
Camden DeGraw
College: Washington State
Position: Edge
High school: Coeur d’Alene
The state’s No. 4 recruit, the 6-4, 230-pound edge picked the Cougars over Boise State and Oklahoma State. He missed three games this year with an injury, but he still had 42 tackles and seven tackles for loss to lead Coeur d’Alene to the 5A state championship game and make the All-Idaho first team.
Tyler Kinsman
College: Oregon
Position: Punter/kicker
High school: Skyview
A second-team 4A All-Idaho kicker and punter, the two-star recruit inked an agreement to become a preferred walk-on at Oregon on Wednesday, choosing the Ducks over Boise State. He averaged 35.1 yards per punt and sent two-thirds of his kickoffs for a touchback this fall.
Luke Flowers
College: Montana
Position: Quarterback
High school: Rigby
The 2022 5A All-Idaho Player of the Year, a three-star recruit and the state’s top quarterback prospect, also had an offer from Arizona. He threw for 3,009 yards with 32 touchdowns and a 71% completion percentage as a junior before finishing his career with 2,285 yards, 20 TDs and a 67% completion percentage this season. His father, Aaron Flowers, played at Cal State Northridge and coached quarterbacks at Montana State.
Seth Brock
College: Montana State
Position: Defensive end
High school: Eagle
A wrecking ball as a defensive end and tight end, the three-star recruit finished his career at Eagle with 31.5 career sacks, including 6.5 this year for an All-Idaho first-team selection. Brock (6-3, 211) picked Montana State over Idaho and Idaho State. “The thing we really fell in love with is how hard this kid plays,” Montana State defensive line coach Shawn Howe said. “He plays extremely hard, and he’s an explosive athlete.”
Davis Harsin
College: Idaho State
Position: Quarterback
High school: Eagle
Rated a three-star recruit by 247 Sports, Harsin picked the Bengals over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The son of former Boise State coach Bryan Harsin led Eagle to an undefeated regular season, a 5A SIC title and the state semifinals with 1,623 total yards and 16 total touchdowns while splitting time but taking the majority of snaps under center.
Shea Robertson
College: Eastern Washington
Position: Linebacker
High school: Coeur d’Alene
Idaho’s all-class leading tackler, the 6-1, 210-pound linebacker racked up 173 stops and 26 tackles for loss this fall to lead Coeur d’Alene to a second-place finish at state. He picked Eastern Washington over Nevada, and made the All-Idaho first team. “Shea paved his own path by coming to camp,” Eastern Washington coach Aaron Best said in a news release. “You will hear him hitting people from the stands.”
Devin Rodriguez
College: Idaho State
Position: Linebacker
High school: Pocatello
The Bengals didn’t have to look far for the next linebacker, signing the heart of Pocatello’s defense. The 6-2, 220-pound playmaker averaged 10.4 tackles per game this season while serving as the Thunder’s emotional leader. He was rated by 247 Sports as a two-star recruit.
Leon Evans
College: Idaho
Position: Offensive line
High school: Eagle
The 6-4, 245-pound road grader started playing football three years ago, and moved to the offensive line just last year. But he put on 40 pounds between his junior and senior years to grab the attention of college scouts and make the All-Idaho first team.
Asher Bowie
College: Eastern Washington
Position: Tight end
High school: Post Falls
The two-star recruit committed to Eastern Washington in July and never wavered. The 6-5, 210-pound tight end hauled in 43 catches for 529 yards and six touchdowns this fall to make the All-Idaho first team. “Asher is a multiple-sport athlete that was on our short list since the beginning of the recruiting process,” Eastern Washington coach Aaron Best said in a news release. “He excelled at our team camp as an individual, during the camp circuit and throughout his senior season.”
Cal Huish
College: Idaho
Position: Tight end
High school: Eagle
The 6-5, 225-pound team captain paired with Brock to give Eagle a pair of punishing tight ends in the run game. He hauled in 19 catches for 271 yards and one touchdown, giving the Mustangs a vertical passing threat and security blanket over the middle.
Matt Irwin
College: Idaho
Position: Safety
High school: Owyhee
A three-year starting quarterback, Irwin guided Owyhee to the first playoff win in program history while throwing for 1,603 yards and 20 TDs with six interceptions. But the 6-foot, 175-pound senior will switch to the secondary with the Vandals.
Owen Forsman
College: Idaho
Position: Kicker
High school: Lakeland
A two-time, first-team All-Idaho kicker at the 4A level, he converted six field goals this fall with a long of 49 yards. The four-year member of the National Honor Society also sent 83% of his kickoffs for touchbacks.
Aiden Nixon
College: Idaho
Position: Tight end
High school: Timberline
A converted wide receiver, the 6-5, 218-pound senior posed a matchup problem all year in the 5A SIC. The preferred walk-on hauled in 32 catches for 421 yards and seven TDs as a big body who could outmuscle defensive backs or out run linebackers.
Ryan Bingham
College: Weber State
Position: Defensive end
High school: Sugar-Salem
A three-year starter for perennial power Sugar-Salem, the 6-3, 220-pound Bingham racked up 55 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 10 sacks this fall to make the 3A All-Idaho team on both the offensive and defensive lines.
