Treasure Valley's top-25 football players
Players 15-11
The list of the Treasure Valley’s top-25 high school football players crosses midfield.
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Check out 25-21 and 20-16 right here.
Photo credit: Keith Smith
15. Kaliopasi Niupalau, Nampa, OL, Sr. — The Bulldogs return just four offensive players from last year’s second straight state semifinal run.
Luckily, their biggest player — literally — is one of them.
So the 6-foot, near 300-pounder will be called upon once again. And if 2019 was any indication, he is more than up to the task. Niupalau was an All-4A Southern Idaho Conference first-team and a All-State second-team selection.
“He pulls so well, gets up in the hole and can get his body on linebackers. This is something that is valued,” Nampa coach Dan Holtry said. “He gives us the opportunity to stay balanced as an offense.”
Photo credit: Loren Orr Photography
14. Landon Albert, Rocky Mountain, LB, Sr. — The Grizzlies have had the 5A classification’s best defense two years running now. It’s allowed them to go 23-1 and win a state title during that time span.
And it’s no coincidence that Albert has been a part of both of those stifling defenses. He will look to keep the trend going in 2020.
Albert posted 80 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and two defensive touchdowns in 2019 to earn both All-5A Southern Idaho Conference and All-State second-team honors.
“We will take advantage of his ability to create big plays by moving him around,” Rocky Mountain coach Chris Culig said. “Goes to work, not flashy, but if you watch him, he is seriously hard to block and always just makes a play when you least expect it and or need it.”
Photo credit: Shannon Teater
13. Jacob Graves, Kuna, OL, Sr. — Graves was the unsung hero of last year’s perfect season.
Quarterback Sean Austin — more on him later — didn’t protect himself. Graves anchored the line of the 4A and 5A’s best offense (44.5 points per game).
And people finally took notice.
He earned All-4A SIC second-team and All-State first-team honors for those efforts.
Graves now has offers from Montana Tech and the University of Idaho.
“Jacob can work in the trenches and do the best he has ever done and after a game get no (recognition) and be OK with it,” Austin said. “He’s the best teammate a player could ask for.”
12. Dominick Conlon, Vallivue, OL, Sr. — At 6-2 and almost 300 pounds, Conlon didn’t need any help standing out.
Well he got some anyways last season. It came in the form of All-4A SIC and All-State first-team selections.
The Falcons will rely more than ever on Conlon, who has a standing offer from the College of Idaho. He’ll be in charge of protecting first-year starting quarterback Casey Cope, who has the tall task of replacing two-time 4A State Player of the Year and UC Davis’ Lan Larison.
“He’s so strong and powerful,” Vallivue coach Layne Coffin said. “He has the ability to stay in stance and drive opposing players.”
Photo credit: Shannon Teater
11. Koltin Teater, Kuna, WR, Sr. — No other player benefited more from the emergence of Austin last season than Teater.
He was his target of choice with 74 receptions, 914 yards and 10 TDs. It led to him being both an All-4A SIC and All-State wideout.
Teater has picked up where he left off with 13 catches, 156 yards and three TDs in the season opener against Lewiston on Aug. 28.
“Even when he’s not getting the ball, he’s doing other important jobs like blocking,” Austin said. “Koltin is like the glue to the receiving corp. He holds everybody together by always doing his job.”