National signing day: Local athletes sign with area colleges

Several local athletes signed football letters of intent Wednesday on National Signing Day, area schools announced.

They include: 

• Tyras Blake, who played free safety and linebacker at Post Falls High, signed with Eastern Washington, where he was recruited as a linebacker. 

• Isaac McKeown, quarterback at Post Falls, signed with NAIA Arizona Christian, which joined the Frontier Conference in football in 2023 

• Cole Meidinger, former quarterback at Timberlake High, signed with Arizona Christian. Meidinger is a transfer from Dickinson (N.D.) State. 

• Jayson Cady, defensive back at Coeur d’Alene, signed with Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. 

• Carter Hanson, offensive lineman at Coeur d’Alene, signed with Rocky Mountain 

• Kolbe Coey of Coeur d’Alene signed with Carroll College in Helena, Mont., where he was recruited as a defensive back. 

"I chose Carroll College because the schooling and football was exactly what I was looking for,” Coey said in a Carroll news release. “I enjoyed the atmosphere, players and coaches a lot on my visit." 

• Carter Vanek, offensive lineman at Lakeland, signed with Carroll. 

"I chose Carroll College because of the close culture and tight-knit community,” Vanek said. “It is the perfect place for me to grow as a person and an athlete." 

• Braden Meredith of Lake City signed with the College of Idaho in Caldwell, where he was recruited as a defensive back. 

• Isaac Rook of Coeur d’Alene signed with Montana Western in Dillon, where he was recruited as a defensive back. 

• Montana Tech in Butte, another landing spot for locals, had yet to announce its signing day list. 

Idaho: First-year Vandals coach Thomas Ford Jr. announced the signing of a total of 33 athletes. The group is highlighted by eight Idahoans, eight from Washington and four from Oregon. 

The lone North Idaho signee was Sawyer Hewitt, a wide receiver from Kendrick High. 

Twenty-three of the signees are high school athletes, seven are four-year transfers and three are junior college transfers. 

Among the four-year transfers were Lonyatta Alexander Jr., a wide receiver from Montana State. 

The group had a heavy emphasis on defense with 11 defensive linemen, six defensive backs and four linebackers. On offense, the Vandals added 12 total players with five offensive linemen, three receivers, a pair of running backs and two tight ends. 

 The 10 mid-year transfers, along with freshman early enrollee Martin Rhyne, are already on campus and participating in winter conditioning. 

Idaho begins spring practice on March 24 with the annual spring game scheduled for Friday, April 25 at 6 p.m. at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.