Puyallup lineman Iuli re-commits to Oregon, Sumner’s Dunn signs with UW
Dave Iuli sat in a chair in the Puyallup High School commons, flanked by a pair of teammates on Wednesday afternoon, the NCAA’s college football National Signing Day. Three straw hats, each one donning a different logo, sat in front of him: Miami, Oregon and USC.
Iuli picked up the Oregon and Miami hat, glanced down at them, before discarding them and putting on the hat in the middle. Oregon, he announced, to the applause of friends and family.
In the end, something about playing in Eugene kept Iuli’s interest. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Puyallup offensive lineman, who is considered a four-star recruit by 247sports.com, was originally committed to Oregon, but reopened his recruitment once Mario Cristobal left for Miami. In marched previous Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, who made it a priority to keep Iuli in the fold.
“When I went down there, nobody had the energy like coach Dan Lanning had,” Iuli said. “When they say Dan’s the man, he is the man, you know what I mean? So, when I went down there, I got to visit everything like that. It was a special opportunity for me to go down there and see what they had to offer and I just knew they were going to build me as a person, and not only as a person but as a football player.”
Cristobal and Miami made a strong push for Iuli’s services, leaning on Cristobal’s existing relationship with Iuli in an effort to secure a commitment from the big man.
“The experience was definitely hard,” Iuli said. “It wasn’t easy. Everyone remembers those times of coaches going back and forth, trying to find out if you should de-commit or re-commit. Going down there to Miami with Mario Cristobal — don’t get me wrong, he’s an awesome coach and I love Mario Cristobal and (assistant Alex) Mirabal — but overall, I just felt like my heart was at Eugene.”
Iuli, a jovial player and person constantly full of energy, ultimately stuck with the Ducks.
“I think the biggest reason was that it was family-oriented,” Iuli said. “Coach Lanning saw something in me and it wasn’t just me, I saw something in coach Lanning, too. Not just coach Lanning, but I saw something in (assistant) coach (Adrian Klemm) and all the coaches he’s working with. I just knew in my heart, it was going to be a great journey. I just have to give them my time and effort to make sure I do the right thing and make sure I do it the right way.”
Iuli was a first-team selection to The News Tribune’s 2021 All-Area team in the fall and a member of the TNT’s 2022 Northwest Nuggets, which looks at the top high school football recruits in the Pacific Northwest. Iuli projects as a guard in college.
““He just competes,” said Puyallup coach Brian Grout. “He’s really athletic for how big he is. He’s got unbelievable explosiveness for his size. He’s a dominant run blocker. Once he gets his hands under you, he’s hard to shake.”
One college coach told Grout Iuli’s frame and skill set reminded him of former UW and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea.
SUMNER SENDS THREE TO DIVISION I
Two impact players from Sumner’s respected defense secured their Division I futures on Wednesday morning, signing with Pacific Northwest programs.
Tristian Dunn officially signed on with Washington as a safety, while Peyton Wing signed with Portland State as a linebacker.
Both made key contributions to the Spartans’ football program during their careers, and both are former TNT All-Area selections.
Dunn, who is considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports.com, committed to the hometown Huskies on Feb. 1 following an official visit to the Seattle campus late last month.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound safety finished with 74 tackles last fall, including six for losses and three interceptions on his way to 4A SPSL defensive player of the year honors. He is projected to remain at that spot at UW, but has versatility, and could also fit at the program’s “Husky” position, which is a linebacker-safety hybrid.
Dunn noted when he spoke with UW co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chuck Morrell about how he might contribute to the Huskies’ defense, he knew Montlake was his destination.
“When I went up into Coach Morrell’s room, we ended up going through film and stuff, and kind of putting me in a place, seeing how I would fit,” Dunn said. “That’s kind of when I really knew, is when we started really chalking up the film side of things.”
Dunn had previously committed to Arizona State last summer, and also held offers from Arizona, Boise State, Florida Atlantic, Nevada, Utah, Utah State and Washington State.
Wing was the most productive two-way player in the 4A SPSL during the shortened season last spring as a junior, starring for the Spartans at both running back and linebacker on his way to league MVP honors.
In only six games, he racked up 716 rushing yards, averaged more than 10 yards per carry, and scored 11 total touchdowns while also collecting 68 tackles on defense.
He missed much of his senior season with a knee injury, but still put up stellar numbers in limited appearances, rushing for 442 yards and eight touchdowns in five games, while adding 47 tackles, including eight for losses and two interceptions on defense.
Wing is expected to join the Vikings as a middle linebacker, but has already proved in his high school career he can offer versatility. Wherever he plays on the field, Wing said he’s thankful to have a spot he can call home at Portland State.
“I’m excited,” Wing said. “It’s been my goal ever since I was a little kid. I always wanted to play Division I football.”
Sumner kicker Wyatt Redding also announced his college commitment later Wednesday, joining a Boise State class that topped the Mountain West in this cycle in the 247Sports rankings.
Redding, another former TNT All-Area selection, was a varsity kicker each of his four high school seasons at Sumner.
In his final season last fall, he connected on 59-of-59 extra point attempts and seven field goals, while also adding 44 touchbacks on kickoffs and handling punting duties with a 45-yard average per attempt.
OTHER SOUND SOUND SIGNEES
Tumwater tight end Ryan Otton, a four-star recruit, signed with UW during the early period. His teammate, tight end Austin Terry, also signed with Boise State early. Emerald Ridge receiver Denzel Boston also signed with the Huskies in the early period.
Graham-Kapowsin’s loaded senior class had several signees: Offensive lineman Vega Ioane committed to and signed with Penn State on Wednesday; tight end/defensive end Andrew Savaiinaea signed with Florida; quarterback Joshua Wood signed with Fresno State and twin lineman brothers Hunter and Curtis Hill and receiver Julian Mason signed with Idaho State. They’ll team up with Lincoln defensive lineman Tuaoa Tauiliili, who also signed with Idaho State.
Todd Beamer offensive tackle Malik Agbo, a four-star recruit, signed with Texas during the early period. Puyallup offensive lineman Tyler Lawrence signed with Air Force during the early period.
Gig Harbor tight end and linebacker Hudson Cedarland, a three-star recruit, signed with WSU during the early period. Across town, Peninsula lineman Hall Schmidt signed with Boise State during the early period.
Idaho landed a pair of South Sound receivers on Wednesday in Puyallup’s Jordan Dwyer and Lincoln’s Chance Bogan, a one-time UW commit.
Spanaway Lake safety KeeKee McQueen signed with Nevada during the early period.
Head to The News Tribune’s high school sports section online to find a full list of in-state signings.
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 5:15 AM.
