Four Eagle High School football players sign with D1 programs on National Signing Day
EAGLE, Idaho - A question rang out amongst the crowd at Eagle High School’s national early signing period ceremony Wednesday morning.
Who’s going to win the Big Sky Conference?
That’s because the Mustangs have four football players going to three different Big Sky Conference schools. Seth Brock (Montana State), Davis Harsin (Idaho State) and Cal Huish (Idaho) all signed their National Letters of Intent. Leon Evans (Idaho) was unable to attend due to illness. But his commitment was made official as well.
“It’s definitely been a while,” said Eagle football coach James Cluphf about having four NCAA Division I players all sign at once. “That’s pretty special. We have a special group of kids. It’s a testament to what they have done and the work they’ve put in to get themselves to this point. Four guys on an early signing day is pretty elite company.”
They’re all top-30 recruits in the state, according to 247sports.com. Eagle, which went 10-1 and advanced to the state semifinals, actually has five players rated in the top-30. It and Coeur d’Alene are the only two programs in Idaho with that distinction. Senior Eli Mikita, who has offers from NAIA's College of Idaho and Montana Tech, will sign in February, according to Cluphf.
But for the Mustang players who did sign Wednesday, every single one made the all-conference team. And two were on the all-state team.
Brock, a 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pound defensive lineman, is the highest rated prospect of the quartet at No. 8. He was a three-year starter who earned all-league accolades the last two seasons.
He racked up 47 tackles and 6.5 sacks this year to garner both co-5A Southern Idaho Conference River Division player of the year and an all-state selection. Brock will now join a Montana State program that’s qualified for the NCAA Division I Championship Subdivision playoffs in five consecutive seasons, including playing for a national title in 2021.
“I came into high school thinking I wasn’t going to do anything. I just wanted to play for fun,” Brock said. “But now I’m looking forward to going in there and doing some pass rushing. I can’t wait to get some sacks next year and just do it on the college level.”
Harsin - the son of former Auburn and Boise State coach Bryan Harsin - is right behind Brock in the rankings at No. 9.
After quarterbacking Auburn High School (Alabama) to the state title game a year ago, Davis Harsin returned home. It came with lofty expectations due to his namesake. But the 6-foot, 180-pound signal caller more than lived up to those.
He threw for 1,419 yards and 12 touchdowns to just three interceptions in a run-based offense. Harsin ran for 204 yards and four scores himself in an offense that also featured a two quarterback system. He was an all-SIC River Division second-team selection.
“I mean looking back on all of it, all the hard training I went through , all the hard work I had to go through, it’s just a reward for sure,” Harsin said. “I’m just blessed to be here.”
Rounding it all out are Huish and Evans, who are both heading up north with similar stories.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Huish didn’t join the Mustangs until right before the start of two-a-days last season. He then suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain towards the end of this year. It cost him three games. But the all-SIC River Division first-team tight end gutted it out during Eagle’s deep playoff run. The University of Idaho took notice by giving him his one and only offer.
“It’s been a dream to play at the next level and Division I is exactly where I want to be,” Huish said. “U of I gave me the opportunity I was looking for. I feel full of gratitude for this opportunity.”
Evans also got a late start with Eagle and was an unlikely college football player, much less NCAA Division I. He came in sophomore year having not played a lick of football.
But three years later, the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder turned himself into an all-state offensive lineman and a top-15 recruit by putting on 55 pounds during this past offseason. Evans was a wide receiver his first year before starting on the o-line at just 185 pounds a year ago.
He and Huish will look to build upon a historic season for the Vandals. They just hosted a playoff game and reached the FCS quarterfinals for the first time in 30 years.
“We’ve been friends since our junior year when I moved in. It hasn’t changed,” Huish said. “We’re going to be the same way moving into college. It’s super cool to get to play with a former teammate who’s also a great friend.”
Brock and Harsin are good friends, too. They've been that way since their optimist football days. The only thing that will change now is that the two will be on opposite sidelines. The Bengals will host the Bobcats next season.
“I haven’t said much to Davis because, you know, Idaho State,” said Brock in jest. “But it’s pretty cool that we’re all playing at different schools in the Big Sky because the chances of us all playing against each other and just representing this great program increases.”
The Big Sky Conference is being well-represented during this year’s playoffs. Four teams in all punched their ticket with the University of Montana slated to play South Dakota State for the national championship on Jan. 7, 2024.
Eagle produced three NCAA Division I players last season.
“It’s rising. It’s rising even more,” Harsin said. “We had a pretty good season this year. But I know they’re going to keep coming back for more and more.”
