Bengal Football Early Signing Class Announced

POCATELLO, Idaho - Idaho State football head coach Cody Hawkins announced that 16 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Bengals on the first day of the early signing period.

This marks Hawkins' third recruiting class at Idaho State as the program continues building momentum after the 6-6 season this year and heading into the 2026 season.

Idaho State's early signing class features a strong defensive foundation with 11 signees on defense and five on offense. The 18-player group spans seven states, including two Idaho recruits, six recruits from California, two from Utah, two from Arizona, and one each from Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. All 18 student-athletes are joining the Bengals directly out of high school.

Additional signees may be added in the coming days.

On the offensive side of the ball, Idaho State adds one quarterback in Kepa Niumeitolu (Sandy, Utah/Lone Peak HS), one running back in Ryder Smith (Winchester, Calif./Great Oak HS), and a wide receiver in Anthony Harrington (Livermore, Calif./Amador Valley HS). The Bengals also strengthen the offensive front with a pair of linemen in Luke Kingman (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley HS) and Brennan Mesa (Albany, Ore./South Albany HS).

Defensively, the Bengals welcome a deep group across all three levels. The class includes Defensive ends Ryan Bingham (Sugar City, ID), Sitili Palmer (Smithfield, UT) and Trehsyn Fesili (Mililani, HI)  along with linebackers Justyn Jordan (Fountain, Colo./Fountain-Fort Carson HS), Braylen Gardner (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View HS), Garrett Miller (Spokane, Wash./Mead HS) and Ryker Mikkelsen (Filer, ID). The secondary adds cornerbacks Tiwan Jones (Paramount, Calif./Lakewood HS), Teddy Johnson (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View HS), and Jaden Rodgers (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega HS), along with safeties Steel Kurtz (Anaheim, Calif./Huntington Beach HS) and Kaedyn Smith (Chandler, Ariz./Basha HS), as well as defensive back Tyran Hicks (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius College Prep).

Position Breakdown

• QB: 1

• RB: 1

• IWR: 1

• OL: 2

• DL/DE: 3

• OLB/EDGE: 1

• LB: 3

• CB: 4

• S: 2

The two Idaho recruits are currently serving LDS missions abroad and will join the team on their returns. 

 

Kepa Niumeitolu
Quarterback | 6'1", 205 | Sandy, UT | Lone Peak HS

Niumeitolu was an efficient dual-threat quarterback at Lone Peak High School, completing 82 of 133 passes for 1,017 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 292 rushing yards and five scores on the ground in 2025.  His production helped anchor a balanced offensive attack.

 

Ryder Smith
Running Back / Linebacker | 6'1", 225 | Winchester, CA (Great Oak HS)

Ryder Smith starred at Great Oak High School in Temecula, California, where he combined power and versatility. Offensively, he rushed for 1,369 yards and 16 touchdowns in one season, contributing to a career total of over 1,900 yards and 29 rushing scores. Defensively, Smith compiled 337 total tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss during his varsity tenure.

 

Anthony Harrington
Wide Receiver | 5'9", 165 | Livermore, CA | Amador Valley HS

Harrington was a large part of the Amador Valley offense, catching 174 passes for 2,952 yards and 19 touchdowns during his varsity career. He added 833 rushing yards and 2 more scores while also handling return duties, finishing with 3,785 all-purpose yards, averaging 122.1 yards per game. 

 

The Bengals also added a pair of offensive linemen to join one of the best O-Line groups in the nation

Luke Kingman
Offensive Line | 6'5", 315 | Murrieta, CA | Murrieta Valley HS

Luke Kingman is a 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman out of Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta, Calif. Kingman was a key member of the offensive line at Murrieta Valley High School, helping the Nighthawks to a 9–4 record and a berth in the 2025 CIF Southern Section playoffs. 

Brennan Mesa
Offensive Line | 6'2", 245 | Albany, OR | South Albany HS

Mesa played on the offensive line at South Albany High School.

Justyn Jordan
Linebacker | 6'3", 190 | Fountain, CO | Fountain-Fort Carson HS

Jordan was a productive defender at Fountain-Fort Carson High School, finishing his senior season with 32 total tackles across 10 games. He recorded 22 solo stops and 10 assisted tackles, averaging 3.2 tackles per game with 1.0 tackle for loss, and contributed as one of the Trojans' key pieces in the linebacker corps, helping his team reach the 2nd round of the playoffs in 2025. 

 

Braylen Gardner
Linebacker | 6'1", 205 | Las Vegas, NV | Arbor View HS

Gardner competed at Arbor View High School in Las Vegas. He played linebacker for a defense that consistently ranked among the most physical units in the region and helped the Aggies to a 9-3 record in 2025 including a perfect 5-0 district record.

 

Garrett Miller
Outside Linebacker | 6'3", 225 | Spokane, WA | Mead HS

Miller played outside linebacker at Mead High School in Spokane, competing in Washington's 3A Greater Spokane League. He was a varsity contributor for the Panthers' defense, helping Mead to a 6-4 record his senior season. 

 

Tiwan Jones
Cornerback | 5'11", 170 | Paramount, CA | Lakewood HS

Jones played cornerback at Lakewood High School in Southern California's competitive Moore League. He contributed to a Lancers program that went 6-4 and made the playoffs in 2025, helping anchor the secondary during his varsity career.

 

Teddy Johnson
Cornerback | 5'10", 160 | Las Vegas, NV | Arbor View HS

Johnson competed at Arbor View High School in Las Vegas, playing cornerback for one of Nevada's top Class 5A Division II programs. He helped the Aggies to a 9-3 record in 2025 including a perfect 5-0 district record. contributing in the secondary throughout his varsity career.

 

Jaden Rodgers
Cornerback | 6'3", 175 | Tucson, AZ | Cienega HS

Rodgers was a steady defensive presence for Cienega High School, finishing his senior season with 18 total tackles across 12 games. He recorded 11 solo stops and seven assisted tackles, averaging 1.5 tackles per game with one tackle for loss, contributing to a Bobcats defense that finished 7-5 and made the playoffs.

 

Steel Kurtz
Safety | 6'2", 190 | Anaheim, CA | Huntington Beach HS

Kurtz was a standout defender for Huntington Beach High School, finishing his senior season with 61 total tackles across 11 games. He posted 39 solo stops and 22 assisted tackles, averaging 5.5 tackles per game and adding 6.0 tackles for loss, helping his team finish 8-3 in 2205 and make the playoffs. 

 

Kaedyn Smith
Safety | 6'0", 170 | Chandler, AZ | Basha HS

Smith contributed in the secondary for Basha High School, recording 9 total tackles in five games during his senior season, including six solo stops and three assisted tackles. He averaged 1.8 tackles per game while helping the Bears to an 11-1 record, at the time of writing this, the Basha HS football team is moving onto the 3rd round of the Arizona State playoffs Dec. 6.

 

Tyran Hicks
Defensive Back | 5'11", 170 | San Francisco, CA | St. Ignatius College Prep

Hicks delivered a strong senior season at St. Ignatius College Prep, competing with 31 total tackles across nine games. He recorded 22 solo stops and nine assisted tackles, averaging 3.4 tackles per game with one tackle for loss, at the time of writing, St. Ignatius College Prep is moving onto the 4th round of the playoffs set for Dec. 5.

 Idaho State also welcomes two in-state additions who are currently serving LDS missions