UI Fulfills Large Needs On Defense Vandals Hope Linemen Recruits Will Fill Immediate And Future Openings Up Front

(From Replay, February 4, 2000): The University of Idaho football recruiting article in Thursday’s edition inadvertently failed to mention Wil Beck as a returning defensive lineman. Beck, from Central Valley High, will be a junior defensive tackle this fall.

University of Idaho’s new coaching staff made a big deal of recruiting.

Nine of the Vandals’ 24 football recruits are linemen, including six designated to replenish a thin defensive front.

“We had to rebuild the defensive line, not just for next year,” said coach Tom Cable, hired in December. “Not only did we fill the need, but the quality is there.”

Cable believes Idaho filled a load of needs with 21 high schoolers and three junior-college transfers. Joel Barker, a JC offensive lineman already enrolled at UI, counts in the ‘99 class.

“This is way better in terms of quality and depth than we could have imagined,” said Cable, who is holding on to two scholarships for late additions.

None of the recruits are from this area. The only Idahoan is Dan White, a lineman from Borah High in Boise who committed to Boise State before changing his mind. Eleven are from California, four from Washington and three from Colorado, Cable’s previous stomping grounds.

“The only thing I’d change is I want to sign more Northwest kids in the future,” Cable said.

“But when they hand you the keys and you have one month (to recruit), you have to do what you’re capable of doing at the time.”

Idaho returns Ryan Knowles, Dennis Taeatafa and J.J. Johnston on the defensive line. The other returnees are light on experience.

Newcomers White (6-foot-3, 220 pounds), Michael Togafau (6-3, 235), Jonathan Younkins (6-2, 265), Jason Henry (6-2, 240), Brendon Floyd (6-6, 235) and Brian Howard (6-4, 260) will try to shore up the position.

White was the best player in Idaho, Cable said. Younkins, of Jacksonville, Fla., was pursued late by Oregon, but kept his UI commitment, the coach said. Henry is a “big time athlete who will be 280 pounds some day,” Cable said.

Togafau was on Colorado’s original list. Howard is on the U.S. U-19 rugby team and will compete in the World Cup in France. “He’s about as tough as you can find,” Cable said.

Elsewhere, Idaho added some speed to its receiving unit, three fullbacks - including Brian Yarno, son of former UI All-America lineman John Yarno - in anticipation of some two-back sets and a punter.

The new receivers are Jimmy Labita, who runs the 100 meters in 10.6 seconds, and Robert Nembhard, who clocked 10.45.

“We have some fine receivers in the program, but we needed some jets,” said Cable, who also added Adam Mallette, a “quarterback for the future.”

Cable awarded Ryan Downes a scholarship to battle with Jeremy Fitzgerald for the punting job.

Jordan Lampos could provide immediate help at linebacker.

“When you’re the defensive player of the year in the city of Los Angeles, something’s up,” Cable said. “He’s 6-feet and (bigger schools) want 6-3 or 6-4. When they all backed off, he fell in our lap.”