Chance Salutregui knew he wanted an opportunity to play college football.
He wanted it bad and was willing to do just about anything to catch the eye of college recruiters.
Salutregui was even ready to get rid of his 1997 Ford Power Stroke. The 6-foot-5 defensive end sold his pickup to help pay for rent in a townhouse in the Skyview High School district in Nampa.
He moved from Ontario, Oregon, to Skyview for his senior season because he thought competing in Idaho 4A high school football would help convince colleges he was good enough for the next level.
The gamble paid off. Salutregui committed to Idaho State the week after the Bengals knocked off Cal Poly at home.
“I fell in love with Pocatello,” Salutregui said. “I loved (defensive line coach) Steve Fifita. His d-line is amazing to me.”
Salutregui likes Fifita’s intensity and how he values using the weight room to bulk up his players. Salutregui says he’s up to 240 pounds today after missing all but four games of last season with a torn meniscus.
Even after sitting out a solid chunk of 2014, Salutregui was still named to the 4A All-Idaho Second Team.
As a junior, Salutregui was the defensive player of the year in the Greater Oregon League for Ontario High School. Leaving Ontario wasn’t easy but Salutregui believed in the value of an athletic scholarship.
“I realized I needed a change,” Salutregui said. “The coaching staff wasn’t right for me in Ontario. The staff wasn’t really into sending kids to college.”
Salutregui surveyed his options and got into contact with Kody Graves, who grew up in Fruitland, which is minutes away from Ontario. Graves and Salutregui had competed against one another their entire lives.
Both admit they were rivals.
“We had similar friends,” Graves said. “But we didn’t really like each other. Our families were good friends. We talked more as he was wanting to transfer.”
Graves himself moved from Fruitland to Skyview for his junior season, so Salutregui went to him for advice.
“He’s one of the main reasons I ended up at Skyview,” Salutregui said. “He was telling me how amazing it was. I had a chance to play at Rocky Mountain (High School) but I chose Skyview for coaching reasons.”
Today, Salutregui and Graves, a linebacker, are verbally committed to ISU and plan to sign with the Bengals on National Signing Day on Feb. 4.
KODY GRAVES
The first time Idaho State called Kody Graves, it was to offer a scholarship.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior linebacker says the Bengals were honest with him from the very beginning, and it’s a major reason why he committed to play football for Idaho State.
“They offered me early and they stuck with me through it,” Graves said. “They were loyal and an up-and-coming program and had a great coaching staff.”
Graves’ two older brothers both play for the Bengals. Tyler, a junior tight end, hauled in 20 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown last season. Hagen, a freshman wideout, caught 21 passes for 360 yards and five touchdowns.
But Kody didn’t choose ISU over Ivy League schools and a walk-on offer from Boise State just so he could play with his brothers. He tabbed the Bengals because it felt like the best opportunity.
As a senior, Kody was the 4A SIC’s co-defensive player of the year after racking up 92 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and two sacks. Skyview went 6-5 and lost to eventual-state champion Bishop Kelly in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
Kody transferred to Skyview from Fruitland for his junior season. The decision, Kody believes, helped convince Idaho State to offer a full-ride scholarship last May after the Hawks won 10 games and reached the state championship.
His commitment is non-binding until National Signing Day on Feb. 4.
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