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Feb. 7—MOSCOW, Idaho — The traditional February football National Letter of Intent signing day is not the presents under the Christmas tree-like gala it used to be. That has been moved back to December, when the University of Idaho signed 30 freshmen and eight transfers.
Signing day Wednesday was more like checking out the stocking stuffers.
Idaho picked up a pair of scholarship players and five more walk-ons.
“This was kind of just a last effort,” Vandals coach Jason Eck said. “It was valuable for our new (coaching) staffers. This was just a little cleanup.”
Highlighting the late signing period are freshmen Marquawn McCraney (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) and Braxton Lawrence (6-4, 205).
McCraney, a receiver from Highline High School in SeaTac, Washington, was honored as his team’s MVP two seasons in a row and led Highline to three KingCo League championships.
Lawrence, a linebacker from Goodpasture Christian High School in Madison, Tennessee, was a first-team all-state defensive back as a senior.
The Vandals can thank their new coaches for those two. Running backs coach Deontae Cooper was McCraney’s high school coach. Defensive coordinator Dan Jackson, who came to Idaho from Vanderbilt, was recruiting Lawrence there.
McCraney was so impressive at Idaho’s summer camp two years ago that he was offered a scholarship then, Eck said. The Vandals are well stocked at receiver, Eck added, but McCraney is “so good you have got to find a way to take him.” McCraney had offers from Power Five schools to play defense, but he is set on playing receiver, and that is how UI plans to use him.
Lawrence helps fill a necessary spot. Idaho lost a couple of linebackers who had committed to the Vandals in December. One is going to Colorado State, the other to Utah.
“We had a little need there and Braxton fit the bill,” Eck said.
Idaho also signed as…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/idaho-football-rounds-recruiting-class-030200407.html
Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Publish date : 2024-02-08 03:02:00
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