Odin Coe and Addison Owen sat next to each other early Wednesday morning at Camas High School as they signed their National Letters of Intent, still teammates until about 7:30 a.m.
Now, they are rivals.
Coe, a defensive lineman, signed with Montana State. Owen, who is expected to play linebacker in college, signed with Montana. Fortunately, the state is big enough for two of them.
Football players from Camas, Union, and Skyview signed Division I letters of intent Wednesday, the first day of the winter signing period.
Ellis Henderson, a wide receiver from Skyview, inked with the University of Hawai’i, a Football Bowl Subdivision school. Union’s T.J. Boatright (Eastern Washington) and Zak Browning (Southern Utah) joined Coe and Owen in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA).
Coe said he will have an opportunity to show he can play right away, but he also understands if he has to redshirt.
“It will give me a year to get stronger and help the Bobcats win a national championship,” he said.
Owen considered Montana State, too, but he fell for Montana as soon as he visited the campus.
“The atmosphere, when there is a game, the whole town closes down,” Owen said.
This is the first time two Camas football players have signed Division I letters in the same year.
“It’s amazing to be part of history. Our football team this year made history,” Owen said.
A few miles away at Union, Boatright was signing with the national champion Eastern Washington Eagles.
“I liked the college town, the team, and I really connected with the coaches,” said Boatright, a tight end. “I have a really good chance to play early, too. And also, national championship. Hard to turn that one down.”
For Zak Browning, The Columbian’s All-Region player of the year, signing with Southern Utah came down to living in Cedar City.
Browning also had an offer from Portland State. He said he liked both “up-and-coming” programs, but he preferred life in a smaller town rather than a big-city campus.
Browning is being recruited as a linebacker, but he said he might be switched to safety.
“It’s exciting. It’s like the beginning of my future,” Browning said. “Things are about to change. I’m about to start the rest of my life.”
His football life will have to wait, though. First is a two-year mission for his church. Browning said he might redshirt his first season at Southern Utah, potentially delaying the start of his college career until 2014.
Later in the morning, Ellis Henderson signed his letter with Hawai’i at a large gathering at his mom’s house. More than two dozen people were there to celebrate the moment.
“It’s definitely a great feeling,” said Henderson, a wide receiver and return specialist. “It’s crazy how much support you gain over the years. I’m still taking it all in, for sure. Definitely blessed and happy to be in the situation I’m in.”
A number of other football players have made decisions, as well.
At Heritage, Nolan LaValley was scheduled to sign with the University of Mary, a Division II school in North Dakota. LaValley earned academic and athletic scholarships.
His Heritage teammate, Andy Bemis, expected to sign with Central Washington.
Skyview’s Cody Fields has accepted an appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and will play football for the Division III program. Nick Phillips, Skyview’s all-league kicker and punter, is headed to Minot State in North Dakota.
Skyview wide receiver Karl Graves, who was slowed by injuries his senior year, said he intends to be a walk-on at Central Washington.
