CdA’s Blakely switches to Boise St.

Before the college football coaching carousel starting turning, as it always does, Coeur d’Alene standout Chase Blakley was set on signing with the University of Washington.

Then two coaching changes – Steve Sarkisian left UW for Southern California and Chris Peterson departed Boise State for UW – caused the tight end to take a second look.

Last weekend during an official visit to Boise State, Blakley decommitted from Washington and accepted an offer from the Broncos. He followed it up Wednesday by signing his national letter of intent.

“Washington still wanted me the whole time, but I felt way more comfortable with the coaching staff in Boise,” Blakley said Monday from the Boise airport for a return to CdA. “I wasn’t as familiar with the new staff at Washington. The new BSU coaches recruited me really hard.”

The 6-foot-4 ½, 240-pound Blakley has been clocked at 4.7 in the 40-yard sprint.

“They want me to maintain my weight and keep up my speed,” Blakley said. “I need to get bigger, faster and a little leaner.”

“If he gets in the right system and buys into the program and puts in the work required, he could be pretty special,” CdA coach Shawn Amos said. “He’s very physically blessed.”

• Coleton Collins of Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) is taking a leap of faith.

Collins has accepted a walk-on offer from Idaho State with the promise of a scholarship the rest of his career.

The 6-3, 207 Collins was recruited at tight end. He led Lakeside with 45 catches for more than 800 yards and 16 TDs last fall.