Idaho signs 8 from junior college level

Paul Petrino got a chunk of his recruiting out of the way Wednesday afternoon with the announced signing of eight junior college players.

All eight will enroll next month for Spring semester and be present for spring football.

The eight signees are:

Glen Antoine DL Highland College Round Rock, Texas 6-foot-2 – 315
Kato Fawkes OL Council Bluffs CC Freeport, Bahamas 6-foot-3 – 305
Jeff Travillion OT Highland College Pflugerville, Texas 6-foot-3 – 310
Marquis Wallace-Hatcher CB Diablo Valley CC Walnut Creek, Calif. 5-foot-11 – 195
Irving Steele LB Ellsworth CC Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 6-foot-1 – 220
Daniel Peterson LB Mesa CC Litchfield Park, Ariz. 6-foot-2 – 215
Max Martial DL Iowa Western CC Wellington, Fla. 6-foot-4 – 305
Doyin Sule DB Santa Ana College Fullteron, Calif. 6-foot-2 – 190

Glen Antoine might be the top get of the class. Idaho had to fend off late interest from Illinois for Antoine’s signature, but they eventually got it. Antoine can come in right away and replace Quayshawne Buckley. Petrino said he will fill the nose-guard position.

The two most important gets are probably the defensive backs, Sule and Wallace-Hatcher. Idaho needs immediate help at cornerback without any solidified starters returning at the position. Both will have immediate opportunities to start. The two will join redshirt freshman Armond Hawkins, to-be senior Delency Parham and to-be junior Jayshawn Jordan at a thin cornerback position.

Kato Fawkes is an intriguing prospect for Idaho as he’s only been playing football for a couple of years, hailing from the Bahamas. Petrino said he will slot into the strong guard position, where Nick Van Rotz and true freshman Steven Matlock played last season.

Petrino said all eight signees will have opportunities to immediately compete for starting spots.

These eight won’t be the last junior college prospects Idaho will go after. Petrino said he anticipates signing around four more during February’s signing day to slot out a class of about 20 or 21, meaning about 9 high school signees.

Running back, wide receiver and defensive line are positions of need for junior college signees, Petrino said.

Petrino also anticipates grayshirts to join this years’ recruiting class and be present for spring ball, although he can’t speak on those names yet.

Defensive back Mason Stone, running back Isaiah Saunders, linebacker Tony Lashley and offensive guard Patrick Johnson are the likely grayshirts to join Idaho in spring ball. All four committed to Petrino’s staff last winter but weren’t included in the initial recruiting class last February.

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