Football | 2/7/2018 8:20:00 AM
POCATELLO, Idaho- Idaho State football coach
Rob Phenicie has announced his 2018 recruiting class. Including the December signing period, the Bengals have signed 23 student-athletes.
Preston Holfeltz (Snow College), Christian McFarland (Sacramento City College) and Kainoa Fuiava (BYU) joined the team at the start of the semester in January.
Including the December signing period the Bengals have also added six student-athletes from the state of Idaho and seven from the state of Utah.
The Bengals signed Ruger Jennings (Gooding HS) and Sam Funkhouser (Gooding HS) in December and they have added Jacob Pinkney (Timberline HS), Michael Davis (Columbia HS), Demonte Horton (Skyview HS) and Garrett Crane (Highland HS).
The seven from the state of Utah are Tu'u Afu (Alta HS), Tavite Tonga (Granger HS), Ty Metcalfe (Syracuse HS), Owen Stewart (Fremont HS), Jeff Harris (American Fork HS), Preston Holfeltz (Snow College) and Jay Wadley (Viewmont HS).
Here is a closer look at each signee.
Michael Davis, TE, 6-4, 220, Nampa, Idaho (Columbia HS)
Parents are Rich and Angie … father was his high school coach … born Nov. 8, 1999 … was named Most Athletic as a junior.
Garrett Crane, DL, 6-3, 225, Pocatello, Idaho (Highland HS)
First-team all-state in football … first-team all-region … earned a football academic award … won two-state titles for basketball and football … born Sept. 16, 1999 … parents are Davis and Pam … led high school team to a 12-1 record and a state title.
Tu'u Afu, RB, 5-11, 215, Sandy, Utah (Alta HS)
First-team all-region and second-team all-state … was on the honor roll every quarter and MVP of his junior varsity team.
Terrance Jones, LB, 6-2, 225, Sparta, New Jersey (Pope John)
Born March 19, 1999 … Prepped at Pope John High School … parents are Tom and Heidi Jones … was coached by Bryan Carlson … led high school team to a 7-4 record … plans to pursue business at Idaho State.
Jay Wadley, DL, 6-4, 260, Centerville, Utah (Viewmont HS)
Lettered in weight lifting, track, basketball and football …varsity football at three schools … second-team all-region … Gold Shield Award for academics and citizenship … parents are Mike and Lonnie … led high school team to a 7-4 record as a senior … born August 13, 1999.
Alec Flanagan, DB, 6-0, 190, Pomona, Calif. (Diamond Ranch HS)
Two-time All-League and CIF … led high school team to a 8-4 record … parents are Keith and Sandra … was coached by Eric Martinez.
Preston Holfeltz, OL, 6-4, 300, Sandy, Utah (Snow College)
Snow College: Led Snow College to an 8-2 record and was all-state in high school … was coached by Britt Maughan at Snow College … prepped at Jordan High School … parents are Jim and Shirley ... signed in December and joined the team at the start of the January semester.
Christian McFarland, DB, 6-0. 190 Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento City College)
Sacramento City College: First-team All-Nor Cal Conference … all-state honorable mention … No. 1 DB in tackles in California … team defensive MVP … had 85 tackles, 62 being solo during the 2017 season … averaged 7.7 tackles per game.
Cosumnes Oaks HS: First-team All-CVC conference … league most versatile player … first-team all-metro by the Sacramento Bee … team MVP … first-team Sac Joaquin section.
Jacob Pinkney, DL, 6-3, 220, Boise, Idaho (Timberline HS)
Three-time varsity letter winner … all-conference … team captain as a junior and senior … Plans to major in business … parents are Frank and Pam … was coached in high school by Ian Smart.
Demonte Horton, WR, 6-3, 205, Nampa, Idaho (Skyview HS)
First-team all-state at wide receiver … two-time first-team all-conference as a receiver … first-team All-USA Idaho at wide receiver … three-time all-academic … conference champs in 2017 for football … 4 by 4 state champion in track in 2017 … garnered three varsity letters … parents are JourDaryyl and Patrina … led high school team to a 10-1 record … plans to pursue a communications degree … born Nov. 6, 1999.
Nikola Wadsworth, LB, 6-2, 230, Darien, Ill. (College of DuPage)
Led team to a 7-3 record … parents are Scott and Raquel … born April 19, 1998 … has two older sisters.
John Perko, OL, 6-4, 290, Â Spokane, Wash. (Gonzaga Prep)
Gonzaga Prep: First-Team All-GSL … parents are Mark and Stephanie … was coached by David Mckenna ... led team to a 9-3 record ... signed in December
Ty Metcalfe, DB, 6-0, 180, Syracuse, Utah (Syracuse HS)
Syracuse HS: Started three-years at quarterback … two-time first-team all-region … second-team all-state as a junior … Region 1 Offensive MVP and Region 1 MVP … two-time team offensive MVP … team captain … holds school record for most starts in Syracuse High School history … holds 11 of 13 passing records … has over 5,000 yards passing and 51 touchdown passes … over 2,000 yards rushing and 13 rushing touchdowns … three-time 1280 The Zone Player of the Week and three-time Standard Star ... signed in December.
Ruger Jennings, LB, 6-2, 180, Gooding, Idaho (Gooding HS)
Gooding HS: First-team 3A All-Idaho … parents are Kelly and Karen … was coached by Cameron Anderson … led high school to a 9-2 record … three-time first-team all-state as a linebacker … three-time first-team SCIC as a linebacker … 2017 SCIC Defensive Player of the Year … as a senior he had 133 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and four sacks ... signed in December.
Sam Funkhouser, LB, 6-2, 198, Gooding, Idaho (Gooding HS)
Gooding HS: Second-team 3A All-Idaho … lettered in track and basketball … led high school to a 9-2 record … three-time first-team All-SCIC as a linebacker … second-team all-state as a sophomore … first-team all-state as a junior … earned second-team all-state as a senior despite only playing four games … in four games as a senior he had 57 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, two interceptions and eight sacks ... signed in December.
Owen Stewart, OL, 6-8, 310, Ogden, Utah (Fremont HS)
Fremont HS: Helped lead team to a 6-4 record … also lettered in basketball … first-team all-region the last two years and second-team all-area.
Devin Dabich, DB, 6-0, 175, S, Pomona, Calif. (Diamond Ranch HS)
Diamond Ranch HS: Had 60 tackles (45 solo and 15 assisted), 14 pass break ups and three interceptions, one being for a touchdown ... was All-Hacienda League first-team as a cornerback and second-team All-Hacienda League as a wide receiver ... had 537 receiving yards and nine touchdowns ... averaged 24 yards per catch.
Spencer Tatafu, DL, 6-1, 245, Portland, Ore. (Parkrose HS)
Two-time first-team all-league at linebacker … MAC Scholar Athlete Award … was on the honor roll … parents are Spencer and Aviance … plans to pursue business at Idaho State … second place in state for discus and shot put … two-time Northwest Oregon Conference Discus champion and two-time shot put champion.
Terron Carey, OL, 6-0, 270, Miami, Florida (Miami Northwestern)
Was born Oct. 8, 1999 … was coached by Max Edwards at Miami Northwestern … plans to pursue Kinesiology at ISU … parents are Terrance and Sabrina … led high school team to a 15-3 record … brother Terrence played at Idaho State from 2013-15.
Tavite Tonga, DL, 6-1, 250, West Valley City, Utah (Granger HS)
First-team all-region and second-team all-state by the Salt Lake Tribune … born Sept. 16, 1999 … was coached by Mike Morgan … parents are Goerge and Siu … brother plays defensive line at BYU.
Kainoa Fuiava, DL, 6-4, 295, Downey, Calif. (BYU)
Was a member of the BYU team in 2016 and 2017 … an All-CIF Southern Section Defensive Team selection in 2015 … helped Warren High go 8-3 with a 4-1 league record and an appearance in the first round of the 2015 CIF Southern Section Southeast Division playoffs … totaled 70 tackles with 42 solo, seven sacks and four forced fumbles along with two rushing touchdowns in 16 games during his junior and senior seasons … coached by Raul Lara.
Hunter Smith, OL, 6-5, 270, Bothell, Wash. (Bothell HS)
Parents are Jared and Katherine … has two sisters and one brother … led high school team to an 8-3 record as a senior … born Sept. 22, 1999 … received the Outstanding Scholastic Award in football and basketball from 2014-16 … also received the Distinguished Scholastic Award in football as a senior … was on the National Honor Society in 2015 and received the Presidents.
Jeff Harris, WR, 6-1, 170, American Fork, Utah (American Fork HS)
American Fork HS: First-team all-region defensive back … Deseret News first-team all-state as a defensive back and returner … Salt Lake Tribune first-team all-state as a defensive back and returner … was coached by Aaron Behm … runs track … team finished 6-6 in 2017.
2017-18 Idaho State Football Signing Class
Nikola Wadsworth, LB, 6-2, 230, Darien, Ill. (College of DuPage)
Jeff Harris, WR, 6-1, 170, American Fork, Utah (American Fork HS)
Owen Stewart, OL, 6-8, 310, Ogden, Utah (Fremont HS)
Ty Metcalfe, DB, 6-0, 180, Syracuse, Utah (Syracuse HS)
John Perko, OL, 6-4, 290, Spokane, Wash. (Gonzaga Prep)
Alec Flanagan, DB, 6-0, 190, Pomona, Calif. (Diamond Ranch HS)
Jay Wadley, DL, 6-3, 260, Centerville, Utah (Viewmont HS)
Tavite Tonga, DL, 6-1, 250, West Valley City, Utah (Granger HS)
Devin Dabich, DB, 6-0, 175, S, Pomona, Calif. (Diamond Ranch HS)
Terron Carey, OL, 6-0, 270, Miami, Florida (Miami Northwestern)
Terrance Jones, LB, 6-2, 225, Sparta, New Jersey (Pope John)
Hunter Smith, OL, 6-5, 270, Bothell, Wash. (Bothell HS)
Tu'u Afu, RB, 5-11, 215, Sandy, Utah (Alta HS)
Spencer Tatafu, DL, 6-1, 245, Portland, Ore. (Parkrose HS)
Garrett Crane, DL, 6-3, 225, Pocatello, Idaho (Highland HS)
Demonte Horton, WR, 6-3, 205, Nampa, Idaho (Skyview HS)
Michael Davis, TE, 6-4, 220, Nampa, Idaho (Columbia HS)
Jacob Pinkney, DL, 6-3, 220, Boise, Idaho (Timberline HS)
Sam Funkhouser, LB, 6-2, 198, Gooding, Idaho (Gooding HS)
Ruger Jennings, LB, 6-2, 180, Gooding, Idaho (Gooding HS)
Kainoa Fuiava, DL, 6-4, 295, Downey, Calif. (BYU)
Christian McFarland, DB, 6-0. 190 Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento City College)
Preston Holfeltz, OL, 6-4, 300, Sandy, Utah (Snow College)
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