ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Football Team is set to welcome the future faces of Wildcat football with national signing day happening on Wednesday, February 3.
"To win in recruiting, it has to start close to home," CWU Head Football Coach Scott Power said We feel like we were able to improve our team by signing some of the best players in this state. The class includes state champions and individuals that come from some of the best programs in the state. Being our first recruiting class, this class is special because they want to be here at CWU and they believe in what we are going to do here."
This year's class features 19 student-athletes. 18 of the 19 come from within the borders of Washington with the final student-athlete not far from the Washington border in the Portland, Oregon area. Two recruits were given three stars by 247Sports. Broken down, this year's class contains five defensive linemen, four offensive linemen, four defensive backs, two running backs, two linebackers, and two tight ends.
Follow along below or on social media (Instagram: @cwu_football | X: @CWUFB) throughout the day as we announce the 2026 CWU Football recruiting class:
High School: Earned First Team All-League along the offensive line... Named Lineman of the Year for the Kingco Lake Division.
Why CWU?: "I love the atmosphere."
Personal: Son of Rosa and
Hector Pena... Has an older brother and a younger sister: Angel and Sophia... Has his own landscaping business... Enjoys being outside and doing hands-on activities especially with cars and trucks... Plans on majoring in Business.
High School: Was named First Team All-League as a safety... Voted Team Captain.
Why CWU?: "I love the program, the coaching staff, along with the school."
Personal: Born on August 30, 2008... Son to Peter Fitzgerald and Wendy Lyon... Has 1 brother... Plans on majoring in Business Administration.
High School: Was a 2-time State Champion with the Vikings... A 2-time All-League defensive back... Voted Team Captain... Led the team in tackles and interceptions.
Why CWU?: "My mom went to CWU and I know it's a great school on top of being sold on the football program."
Personal: Born on April 23, 2008... Son to Darold and Jeanne Phinney... Has 1 sister, Lauren... Can do a backflip... Undecided on a major.
High School: Earned First Team All-State as a tight end... First Team All-League as a tight end... Tight end for the West in the East vs. West game... Earned the MHS Most Improved Award... Named a Team Captain.
Why CWU?: "I love the campus and how it's relatively close to home."
Personal: Born on February 10... Son to Chad and Erica... Has 2 siblings: older brother Nathan and younger sister Vivian... Loves sports and has been a 3 sport athlete his entire life... Stoked to become a Wildcat and hone his skills into one sport... Plans on majoring in Fire Science.
High School: Named State Offensive Player of the Year... Tabbed Kitsap Sun Player of the Year... Was the Olympic League MVP... West Sound holder for rushing yards and touchdowns in a single season.
Why CWU?: "It felt like home for me and also the atmosphere is electric."
Personal: Born on May 19... Son to Chyanna Camacho and Adeniyi Webster... Stepmom is Joyce Webster... Has 5 siblings and 2 stepbrothers... Enjoys fishing... Undecided on a major.
Before CWU: Was at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho for two seasons... Made one appearance in 2025 at UNLV but redshirt the season... Saw action in 7 games as a true freshman in 2024... Logged 2 assisted tackles on the season: 1 each vs. Sacramento State and at Weber State... Transferred to ISU from Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. ahead of the 2024 season.
High School: Graduated in 2023 from Kelso High School in Kelso, Wash.... Was a 3-star recruit and the 29th-best player in the state of Washington... Named the 3A GSHL Defensive Player of the Year.
Personal: Son to Brad and Tiffany Phillips... Has 1 younger sister, Charlee... Enjoys fishing, snowboarding, and being outdoors... Plans on majoring in Law & Justice.
High School: Named First Team All-State... Earned First Team All-Conference... Team Captain... Earned letters in both football and track & field.
Why CWU?: "It has great schooling opportunities, the staff is great, and I fell in love with the campus."
Personal: Born on May 23, 2008... Son to Evan and Ann... Has 1 sister... Enjoys playing TTRPG, card games, and enjoys reading... Plans on majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology.
High School: Helped lead the Fighting Irish to 2 State Football Championships and 3 Metro Championships... Tabbed a 3A All-State offensive lineman... Named the 3A All-Metro Offensive Lineman of the Year... 2-time All-Metro First Team as an offensive guard... O'Dea Outstanding Offensive Lineman of the Year... 3-year letter winner in football... 1-year letter winner in lacrosse... Member of the Honor Roll for all four years.
Why CWU?: "It felt like home when I was on my visit and I truly believe in the new staff and what they're building."
Personal: Born on February 18, 2008... Son to Tom and Heidi Matzen... Has 1 sibling: Vaughn... Was born in Chicago and moved to Seattle when he was 3... Huge Chicago sports fan, especially for the Bears... Has a giant XL Bulldog named Harvey... Plans on majoring in Engineering.
High School: Earned First Team All-League as a running back.
Why CWU?: "The culture."
Personal: Born on June 5... Son of Jeanelle Owens... Has 1 older sister, Layla... Enjoys fishing... Undecided on a major to pursue.
High School: Helped lead the Bullpups to six conference championships... Earned First Team All-State as a defensive back... Was a 2-time First Team All-Leauge defensive back... Helped the Bullpups to the 2025 4A WIAA basketball state championship... Made the Second Team All-League as a baseball player.
Why CWU?: "The coaches made it feel like home and a welcoming community."
Personal: Born on June 13, 2007... Son to Casey and Kenny Pierce... Has 4 older sisters... Loves to play sports whether it's football, basketball, or baseball... Loves to spend quality time with my friends and family... I'm always committed to working hard... Plans to major in Sport Management.
High School: Named All-State as a defensive back... Was an All-Region as a linebacker... League Defensive Player of the Year... 2-time First Team All-League as a defensive back... Was a WIAA state placer in wrestling.
Why CWU?: "Because it already feels like a family."
Personal: Born on January 24... Son to Davina.. Has 2 siblings... Plans on majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
High School: Earned First Team All-League along both the offensive and the defensive line... Was the forced fumble season leader for the football team... 4-time letter earner in football... MVP of the wrestling team... Placed 8th at state in the 285 weight class... Was the take down leader for the wrestling team... 3-time letter earner in wrestling.
Why CWU?: "I love the culture that the football team has and the campus is really nice."
Personal: Son of Jeremy Rubin and Shauna Parton... Has 5 other siblings, including a twin brother... Been playing football since kindergarten and started to wrestle sophomore year of high school... Plans on majoring in Construction Management.
High School: Helped lead the Seahawks to two State Football Championships... First Team All-Conference as a tight end... Earned First Team All-Conference as a forward in basketball... Earned 12 varsity letters among football, basketball, baseball, and track.
Why CWU?: "Because of the winning program and for further development."
Personal: Born on June 22... Son to Scott and Tracy... Has two sisters, one older and one younger... Enjoys hunting and fishing... Plans on majoring in Education.
High School: Earned First Team All-League as an offensive lineman... Was named Second Team All-Area as an offensive lineman... Voted OHS Offensive Lineman of hte Year.
Why CWU?: "For the culture."
Personal: Born on December 23, 2007... Son to Cory and Ashley... Has 1 sister named Lilly... Plans on majoring in Education.
High School: Was a 3-time All-League Defensive Lineman... 2-time All-League Offensive Lineman... 2-time All-Area Offensive Lineman... Voted the 24-25 Team MVP... Lettered in football all 4 years and basketball junior year.
Why CWU?: "Because it felt like the coaches believed in me and gave me the best opportunity to develop. I also wanted to stay close to home."
Personal: Born on January 9, 2008... Son to Kerri and Horton Charles... Has 5 brothers in which he is the 3rd oldest of his dad and second oldest for his mom... He used to play running back all the way until 8th grade... Plans on majoring in Special Education.
High School: Graduated from Sumner High School in Sumner, Washington.
High School: Named First Team All-Conference both junior and senior year... Was the RHS Defensive MVP both junior and senior year... Voted a Team Captain both junior and senior year, serving as the first-ever junior captain for the Bombers... Finished fifth all-time in tackles at RHS... A member of the Honor Roll all 4 years.
Why CWU?: "I chose CWU because the whole staff was very personal to me and saw a light in me and believed in my ability to strive. They had everything to offer and more. It's also close to home, has solid athletics, and provides a great education."
Personal: Born on March 6, 2008... Son to Stephanie and Richard Jr.... Has 2 younger sisters... Was born and raised in Hawaii... Plans to major in Business.
High School: Earned All-League recognition twice as a defensive back and once as a wide receiver... All-Area defensive back.
Why CWU?: "Many reasons, but it comes down to comfortability with me and my family ready to learn from Coach Power, Coach Murph, and the rest of the staff. It's a place to help myself both on and off the field."
Personal: Born on November 20, 2007... Was born to be that person you want to be around... Plans on majoring in Sport Medicine & Business Management.
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High School: Earned First Team All-State 3 times... Was a 3-time First Team All-League honoree.
Why CWU?: "I chose CWU because it felt like home. Everyone is connected and caring about each other on top of also wanting to win."
Personal: He has 3 siblings... His older brother is a linebacker at Georgia State in Atlanta... Enjoys eating new food besides fish... Enjoys riding his dirt bike... Undecided on a major to pursue.
