Signing Day notes: Graham-Kapowsin sends 4 to college football programs
Four Graham-Kapowsin High School seniors who led the Eagles to an undefeated Class 4A South Puget Sound League title last fall, and an appearance in the state title game at Husky Stadium, sat side by side Wednesday afternoon in Graham to celebrate the next step in their football careers.
“The consistent theme with these guys that you’re going to find, the reason they’ll be successful in college is because they know what the hard work looks like, and what it takes,” Eagles coach Jeff Logan said, addressing the crowd that gathered in Graham-Kapowsin’s gym for the program’s National Signing Day ceremony.
Wide receiver Malachi Durant (signed with Oregon State), quarterback Daveon Superales (Montana State), wide receiver Jabez Woods (Montana State) and wide receiver/defensive back Mika Roberson (Central Washington) were all key performers for Graham-Kapowsin in the fall, pacing the program to a 13-1 record and the second state title game appearance in school history.
“What we did this year was definitely memorable, and definitely something to take a lot of pride in,” Superales said.
Now, they begin the next chapter.
Durant, who entered the day as the highest-ranked unsigned recruit in the South Sound, officially joined Oregon State’s roster early Wednesday morning.
He announced his commitment to the program in early June — choosing Oregon State over offers from 10 more Division I programs — and remained committed as the football landscape evolved in Corvallis the past eight months.
Conference realignment shook up the Pac-12 again over the summer, with 10 schools set to depart ahead of the 2024 season. Then Jonathan Smith, Oregon State’s head coach the past six seasons, left the program in late November to become the head coach at Michigan State.
Still, Durant remained patient, and signed with the program Wednesday. He noted his trust in the coaching staff — including position coach Kefense Hynson, who is remaining with the program — as the Beavers prepare for the 2024 season.
“He was the one who recruited me,” Durant said of Hynson. “So, again, I had a lot of trust in him to lead me on the right path.”
Staying close to home was another factor in Durant’s decision to make Corvallis his college destination.
“Oregon State made me really feel closest to home,” he said.
Durant is one of two high school players from the state to head to Oregon State next season, joining Sumner offensive lineman Dylan Sikorski, who signed with the Beavers during December’s early period.
The Beavers will also add two transfers who played prep football in Washington, including Chiawana’s Kobe Singleton (from Liberty) and Lincoln’s Gabarri Johnson (from Missouri).
Durant and Johnson formerly played 7-on-7 football together, and Johnson has also worked with Durant’s dad, Lavelle, a quarterbacks trainer.
Before signing with Missouri last winter, Johnson finished his high school career with 8,903 total yards and 111 total touchdowns. He was also named TNT All-Area player of the year and an all-state quarterback as a senior, and was both a Northwest Nuggets and Western 100 selection.
“He’s really good,” Durant said. “He’s going to be a great part of the team.”
Durant joins Oregon State following a stellar senior season with the Eagles. He opened Graham-Kapowsin’s undefeated run through the 4A SPSL with a 90-yard return touchdown against Rogers on the season-opening kickoff last August, and went on to lead the Eagles in receiving touchdowns.
In 14 games, Durant piled up 75 catches for 1,129 yards and 18 scores, was both a TNT All-Area and all-state selection, and named to the Western 100 this winter.
Durant will look to continue that success at the Division I level in Oregon State’s receivers room.
“I talk to Coach Gundy (offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson) a lot, and when I went on my last official visit, we went over the plays and everything, and they’re saying whoever their best receiver is, they’ll use them in as many possible ways as they can use them,” he said.
“So, hopefully as a true freshman that could be me, but I know I’m going to work my way up to that.”
Superales and Woods are both set to continue their football careers in Bozeman.
Superales, Graham-Kapowsin’s starting quarterback the past two seasons, joins the Bobcats as a preferred walk-on after leading the Eagles to back-to-back 4A state semifinals and a title game appearance in 2023.
Superales paced Graham-Kapowsin in both passing (3,779 yards, 44 TDs) and rushing (781 yards, eight TDs) his final high school season, and continued to deliver impressive performances week after week, staying patient during the recruiting process.
“Just be patient, just let things come to you and everything will unfold,” he said.
Superales was named the 4A SPSL co-MVP, TNT All-Area player of the year and an all-state pick this winter, was offered an opportunity at Montana State, visited Bozeman and committed to the Bobcats.
“Coaching staff is great, the place is beautiful, the community is very welcoming,” Superales said. “It was just great.”
Woods, who signed with Montana State during December’s early period, also heads to Bozeman after leading the Eagles in receiving the past two seasons.
A two-time TNT All-Area and all-state selection, Woods caught 105 passes for 1,299 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior, and finished the 2023 season with 1,632 all-purpose yards.
“Put him out on the field, put him in open space and he’s going to do a lot,” Superales said.
Roberson joins the Wildcats following a standout senior season for the Eagles on offense and defense. He piled up 429 all-purpose yards, including 298 receiving and five touchdowns, and tallied 37 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions and a fumble recovery at defensive back.
EMERALD RIDGE SENDS EIGHT MORE TO COLLEGE PROGRAMS
Emerald Ridge is set to send 10 players from this senior class to college football programs next season.
Four-year starting quarterback Jake Schakel (Eastern Washington) and leading receiver Tony Harste (Idaho) are headed to the Big Sky after signing during the early period in December.
Wednesday night at Emerald Ridge, eight more Jaguars seniors celebrated their college commitments.
“It’s amazing,” said wide receiver and safety Gio Kafentzis, who is headed to Utah State. “There’s a lot of guys that just want it. They want to succeed. They want to play.
“ … I’ve seen the hard work that they’ve put in. Everything throughout the weight room, throughout practices, game days, the preparation — and I’m just so excited for them and their careers. They can do anything.”
Kafentzis, who will join the Aggies as a preferred walk-on, was a standout on both offense and defense for the Jaguars throughout his career, helping lead Emerald Ridge to the school’s first state playoff appearance in 2022, and another run to the 4A bracket in 2023.
As a senior, he hauled in 29 catches for 509 yards and nine touchdowns, and added 30 tackles and two interceptions at safety in five games played before an injury ended his season for the second consecutive year.
Kafentzis committed to Utah State on Monday, securing his college football destination, and will join the program at safety.
“I was just so happy to just make it finalized and done, and I just can’t wait to get there,” Kafentzis said.
Navarre Dixon, who was a standout in the backfield and Mat Classic champion at Lincoln before joining the Jaguars as a senior, signed Wednesday with Division II program Black Hills State.
Dixon posted impressive numbers last fall at Emerald Ridge, averaging 100-plus yards per game, and leading the Jaguars in rushing with 1,115 yards and 13 touchdowns on 173 carries.
“It was pretty awesome,” Dixon said of his senior season. “Made some great memories with some new guys, made a lot of new connections, met some great coaches. Had a great season.”
Emerald Ridge’s Isaiah Jennings is also headed to the Division II level, signing with Central Washington, while Kajon Babcock, Ryan Murphy and Sean Tutty are headed to NAIA program Rocky Mountain College and David Brown is set to join Division III program PLU.
“I think this class was very special, and there was a lot of guys on this team who made such an incredible impact,” Kafentzis said.
This story was originally published February 7, 2024 at 11:24 PM.
