College of Idaho offers three Gig Harbor High football players in 24 hours

It appears the College of Idaho likes the Gig Harbor High School football program.

In the span of 24 hours on Thursday and Friday, the Yotes had offered three Tides seniors: quarterback Davis Alexander, wide receiver Kyle Olson-Urbon and defensive back Kale Wong. The College of Idaho, located in Caldwell, is a small NAIA school with an enrollment of 1,122 students.

Wong, who is making the switch from outside linebacker to free safety this season, was thrilled to receive his first offer.

“It feels really great,” Wong said. “I’m really blessed to receive an offer. It was a good feeling. I didn’t see that coming with Davis and Kyle — they’re really great athletes. I didn’t think I was to that caliber.”

He might have had some doubts, but Gig Harbor coach Aaron Chantler didn’t. Chantler said Wong has the most untapped potential of anyone on the Tides football team.

“He’s naturally athletic, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds,” Chantler said. “He could put on another 30 pounds and be an outside-linebacker type kid. Or he could stay at his weight and be a free safety. He could play from the D1 to the D3 level. He likes to hit people. He’s a really aggressive, physical safety.”

Making the switch from linebacker to safety hasn’t been a huge transition in Gig Harbor’s defensive system.

“Free safety is basically another linebacker in our scheme — just more coverage. It’s a better position for me,” Wong said. “It’s exciting, I really like it. I don’t really get beat up now. I was a small linebacker playing middle linebacker. It was pretty tough. I was always in there — now I can kind of stay back and wait for the big hits. I really feel comfortable with it and I’m really aggressive with it.”

Chantler had been in communication with the College of Idaho staff and knew a couple offers were likely coming, but he didn’t know how quickly they’d come in.

“I didn’t know it was going to come as fast as it did,” Chantler said. “I was definitely happy.”

Wong projects himself as an outside linebacker in college.

“Your speed is what matters,” he said.

Wong has also been talking with other schools, including Army and Air Force. As for his goals for his senior season, they were simple.

“Just win state and get a scholarship,” he said.

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 12:57 PM with the headline "College of Idaho offers three Gig Harbor High football players in 24 hours."