POCATELLO, Idaho - In the ever-changing world of college football, consistency is a rare commodity. But for Idaho State linebacker
Junior Damuni, consistency isn't just a trait, it's a calling card.
The senior from Logan, Utah, enters his final season with the Bengals as one of the team's emotional leaders, a steady presence in a locker room that's seen its share of transformation. Over the past four years, Damuni has played under multiple head coaches and even more defensive coordinators. But through it all, he's remained planted, focused, and ready.
"Junior's a guy I get to rely on a lot," said defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
Grant Duff. "He's gone through a lot, three, maybe four head coaches, who the heck knows. Lots of different position coaches. He's persevered. That guy's a true Bengal."
A Family of Competitors
Damuni comes from a family where sports weren't just encouraged, they were expected. One of seven siblings, Junior's household reads like a recruiting hotbed. His older brother Levani is a linebacker at Utah, his younger brother Jovesa plays running back at BYU, and his sister Nia sets volleyballs at Gonzaga. The rest? Still in high school and still competing.
"It's pretty competitive. Whether it's pickleball or board games, we're at each other's throats," he laughed. "Growing up, it was always older siblings versus younger siblings. It helped us grow. It helped us compete."
That competitive edge helped shape Damuni into the player he is today. From driveway basketball games to backyard football, he learned how to win and how to lose with grace. "We never gave each other an inch," he said. "And I think that toughness, that drive, is something that translates well to football."
Raised across Memphis, Boulder, Fayetteville, and Logan, Damuni credits much of his football DNA to his father's career in college athletics. In Arkansas, he had sideline access to SEC games under then-head coach Bobby Petrino. "We grew up around football. Being on those sidelines during games, watching some of the best football in the world, it made me fall in love with it early," Damuni said.
Finding Himself, On and Off the Field
Damuni played high school ball at Ridgeline High in Millville, Utah, under head coach Christopher Howell. It was there he blossomed into a varsity contributor, finding his rhythm as a late bloomer during his junior year. "Coach Howell ran the program like a college team. Practices, schedules, film, it felt like D1," Damuni said. "So I think I was ready when the opportunity came."
That opportunity was put on pause when Damuni chose to serve a two-year religious mission in Mexico City. He left weighing 180 pounds and returned at 230, a transformation that led to his move from safety to linebacker.
"My maturity level jumped a lot," he said. "I learned how to take care of myself, how to lead, how to be accountable. That experience changed me."
During his mission, Damuni leaned into personal discipline. "You don't have parents, no coaches, no support system except your companion and the people you're serving. It taught me a lot about patience and purpose," he said.
Through Change, a Leader Emerges
Damuni arrived at Idaho State in 2021 and has weathered just about every kind of program overhaul. From staff turnover to scheme changes, he's been a constant, even when playing time was limited by injuries. Despite battling setbacks, he remained vocal in meetings, active in the film room, and supportive on the sidelines.
"From my freshman year until now, it's been a complete 180," he said. "It feels so much more organized. We're not all over the place."
This season, under Coach Duff, Damuni sees a new energy. A championship mindset. A defense that flies around and has fun.
"The scheme is great. So fun to play in," Damuni said. "We're doing everything, blitzing, covering, flying around. But it's more than that. Coach Duff preaches doing everything like a champion, on and off the field."
Duff, for his part, sees the perfect example in No. 11. "He's Mr. Consistent. Highest-graded linebacker in our first scrimmage. Throw him into any situation and he won't let you down," Duff said. "He won't let himself down."
Even though he appeared in only eight games in 2024, Damuni still made an impression with 18 total tackles. While he doesn't fill up the stat sheet, his impact is measured in communication, positioning, and dependability, a coach's dream.
A New Legacy
As Damuni prepares for his senior year, he does so with renewed urgency. Not only is he aiming for a starting role and a Big Sky title, but he's also preparing to become a father. His wife is due with their first child, a son, on December 26.
"At first, I was nervous," he admitted. "But it's the best motivation I've had. I want to be the best version of myself for them. It's pushing me on the field, too."
That sense of purpose has redefined Damuni's approach to everything, his sleep, his diet, his preparation. "You start thinking about the example you want to set," he said. "Not just for your teammates, but for your son."
Damuni is studying public relations and leadership at Idaho State, with hopes of one day working in college athletics, perhaps as a director of football operations.
"I just want to win this year," he said. "Be a leader, play hard, and leave something behind."
He may not have the flashiest stat line, but
Junior Damuni embodies something more enduring: a rock-solid presence forged through movement, mission, mentorship, and maturity.
And if the Bengals do make a run in 2025, don't be surprised if the heart of that defense is a senior linebacker who's seen it all, stuck through it all, and plays like he has everything to fight for, because now, he does.
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