4 state champion Highland Rams head to the collegiate level, 2 to ISU
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - Four members of the Idaho 5A state champion Highland Rams signed to play football at the collegiate level Wednesday.
Two of them, linebacker Colton George and running back Jackson Riddle, signed to play for the Idaho State Bengals.
The two other Rams will be playing out of state.
Trayson Bagley will play for the University of Puget Sound and Brian Kelly will play for the Montana Western Bulldogs."
The event coincides with National Signing Day for Division I and Division II football players.
"These...programs are getting some not only talented players," head coach Nick Sorrel said. "...But also some really great young men."
"It's tough to see them leave. But you know what? They put in four years with us and they've left their mark. You know, their state champions. They're part of Highland history that will never be forgotten."
Colton George will head to ISU as a linebacker. Something his parents say he's wanted since he could walk.
"He's wanted to be a football player since he was a little kid," David George told Local News 8. "He watched his older brother play football."
That brother, defensive lineman Logan George, also plays for ISU.
Colton plans to leave on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following high school. But when he returns, both brothers will be wearing Bengal orange.
Running back Jackson Riddle was the new kid on the block when he joined the highland football team three years ago, but he says summer training camp made him feel at home.
"Immediately everybody was welcomed with open arms," Jackson said. "As soon as the summer was over, I already went into the school year like having all my friends."
The road to state championship wasn't easy for the team.
After Highland High school caught fire the boys say they were more motivated than ever to win.
"We had so much doubt," Coltan George said.
"We're like, 'what are we going to do?' We didn't have football pads. We didn't get to do our team camp in the summer."
"It definitely meant more to us," Jackson echoed.
"That was definitely part of the reason that I felt like we pushed so hard too, because we all wanted to do it for that community and for our school."
Now they head to play in the Big Sky Conference.
