Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — With just 66 days between now and the season opener, College of the Redwoods football fans are beginning to feel the excitement.

And they have plenty to look forward to as head coach Jason White and his players prepare for a second consecutive season competing in the National Division after making the jump from the American Division a year ago.

After a strong finish to last season, White and his assistant coaches have every reason to feel optimistic ahead of the 2026 campaign, and the addition of several local talented recruits will no doubt help.

Little 4 MVP Tanner Pidgeon has committed his future to the local JC program and will compete for the starting quarterback job this summer.

Pidgeon, who helped lead the Wildcats to a state championship in 2023, will be joined by another state champion and several additional high-profile H-DNL players.

Arcata’s Nathaniel Stiles, who played on the offensive line on Arcata’s state championship winning team in 2024, also has committed his immediate future to the team, as have a trio of talented St. Bernard’s players and two of the best running backs in the area last fall, Fortuna’s Mako Limon and Kavi Bolden.

St. Bernard’s graduates Kohlton Hall, Jahseree Bailey and Kuron Devlin all recently held their letter signing ceremony to join the Redwoods program, which finished 3-7 in 2025, including a 3-2 record in the National NorCal Conference.

And White is excited about all of the new recruits.

The CR head coach believes Devlin, who was a big-time playmaker at receiver and corner back with the Crusaders, could benefit his team on either side of the ball.

“Kuron’s a kid who’s very athletic,” White said of the Florida native, who transferred to St. Bernard’s before his junior season. “He could probably play either side of the ball. He’s a very dynamic player.”

His SB teammates Hall and Bailey wreaked havoc at defensive end last fall and combined for 35.5 sacks between them.

Hall will also compete in track and field for the local community college and White likes what he’s seen from him this year.

“Kohlton got to work out with us in the spring,” the CR coach said. “He’s a really great kid and he’s definitely hungry, and he’s got a good build. We’re excited about getting him. He should see some reps this year.”

Likewise with Bailey, who follows in the footsteps of his older brother Perry Bailey and cousin Deshaun Bailey, each of whom recently played at CR and both of whom made their mark there.

“Jahseree Bailey also had a great high school career,” White said. “His brother was a great player for us. He’s a kid that needs to put on some size, but he brings athleticism.”

Limon and Bolden are two players local fans are very familiar with after outstanding seasons for both last fall, as they led the Huskies to a co-Big 4 championship.

Both Fortuna graduates are expected to immediately challenge for game time in the offensive backfield and both bring a lot of speed to the position, and a lot more besides.

“They’re both excellent players,” White said. “I think those two can come in and compete right away. They bring speed to the game and physicality, and that’s really what we’re looking for.”

Stiles, meanwhile, brings a winning mentality after playing a key role on the Tigers’ march to a state title two years ago, and he is another player who worked out with his new teammates this spring.

“He’s a large human, and you can’t teach that,” White said with a chuckle. “And he’s smart. He picks up on things quickly, and he’s very coachable.

“He’s another guy that can compete right away.”

Other high-profile recruits this offseason include Del Norte’s Dave Brown, Eureka’s Brycen Mismash and Fortuna’s Michael Shaw, all of whom made a big impact on the local high school fields.

Brown will join Hall and Bailey on the defensive line, while Mismash will vie with Bolden and Limon for playing time at running back.

White described Brown as “an excellent player” and someone who “gets after it.”

“Brycen Mismash has got some ability and he could find a role on our team,” White added of the Eureka graduate. “I like the way he approached things we did in the spring.”

Shaw, meanwhile, was a playmaker at receiver and kick returner for the Huskies, a role White hopes he continues to fill at the next level.

“I like the way he plays,” the CR coach said. “He kind of plays with a little nasty, and you’ve got to have some guys that have a little chip on their shoulders.”

Hoopa’s Ethan Obie also has committed his future to the program and will compete for time at linebacker, while Arcata’s Miguel Obezo and Messiah Love will also play for CR.

The Tigers duo, who were a part of the 2024 state championship team, are expected to play defensive back.

Redwoods is scheduled to scrimmage at Southern Oregon University on Aug. 15 before opening the new season on the road at San Jose two weeks later.

CR will play its home games at the Redwood Bowl once again this fall, with the first home game against Reedley on Sept. 5.