Signing day notes: Lakes standouts Pac-12-bound, Lincoln QB headed to SEC

In front of a large contingent of family and friends at the Lakes High School cafeteria on Wednesday afternoon, David Wells and Leo Pulalasi inked their college football National Letters of Intent.

Their families won’t have to travel too far to watch them play in college.

Pulalasi, a versatile running back/receiver/linebacker, signed with Washington State. Wells, a speedy wide receiver and defensive back, signed with Oregon State. With wide smiles and some good-natured smack talk, Lakes’ dynamic duo is Pac-12 bound.

“I’m gonna enjoy it a lot, especially, it’s not too far so we can still hang out whenever we want,” Wells said. “It’s going to be fun, especially playing with him at Lakes. Having someone like that to play against is going to be fun.”

Pulalasi, considered a three-star recruit by 247sports.com, was previously committed to BYU, but saw offers roll in this fall from Oregon State and WSU. Ultimately, he felt most comfortable in Pullman.

“All the coaches were like family to me,” he said. “When I went, it just felt like I was already home.”

Wells, also considered a three-star recruit, committed to Oregon State in June. Longtime Lakes coach Dave Miller said Pulalasi and Wells not only have Pac-12 talent, but are two of the most likable kids he’s coached.

“These two guys are two of the more loyal kids I’ve had, in today’s age where you see everyone jumping around at every level,” Miller said. “They’re just total team guys.”

Both Pulalasi and Wells were first-team selections to The News Tribune’s 2022 All-Area team. Pulalasi piled up 1,203 all-purpose yards this fall, rushing for 762 yards and 19 TDs and adding 391 yards and seven TDs on 17 catches. Wells led the Lancers with 543 receiving yards and seven TDs and was a key part of Lakes’ defense at safety.

They’re headed their separate ways, but they’ve been playing together since the sixth grade and plan to keep in touch with each other in college.

“We have each other’s backs,” Pulalasi said. “He’ll always be my brother.”

PAC-12 BOUND PLAYERS FROM SOUTH SOUND

Pulalasi and Wells were among eight South Sound players to sign with Pac-12 programs Wednesday.

Kennedy Catholic’s Micah Banuelos, the 4A North Puget Sound League offensive lineman of the year, signed with USC.

Banuelos blocked for a Lancers offense that piled up 412.8 yards per game and 72 total touchdowns.

Kennedy Catholic reached the 4A state championship game for the first time in program history with Banuelos anchoring the offensive line at left tackle.

Nathan Pritchard, the 3A NPSL offensive lineman of the year, played left tackle for an Auburn Riverside offense that collected 2,500-plus yards this season.

The Ravens advanced to the 3A district round with Pritchard, who signed with Washington State, playing a key role on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Emerald Ridge defensive lineman Jacob Lane signed with Washington following an impressive senior season, during which the Jaguars reached the state playoffs for the first time in school history and advanced to the 4A state semifinals.

Lane, the 4A South Puget Sound League defensive lineman of the year, recorded 46 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks, three quarterback hurries and a caused fumble, and had an interception return touchdown and punt return touchdown.

He also played tight end, hauling in 24 catches for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

Federal Way cornerback Andre Jordan is headed to Oregon State after helping the Eagles to the 4A state first round.

Jordan, the 4A NPSL all-purpose player of the year, piled up 1,162 all-purpose yards this fall and led the league with 15 total touchdowns. He allowed only one catch all season on defense in 11 games.

Kentridge’s Dorian Thomas signed with Arizona after initially committing to Oregon State back in 2021.

Thomas, who will play tight end for the Wildcats, was named the 4A NPSL MVP after piling up 1,200 passing yards and eight touchdowns, 260 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and a receiving touchdown playing quarterback for the Chargers this season.

Thomas also had 45 tackles, two interception returns for touchdowns and a fumble recovery touchdown as a defensive back during Kentridge’s run to the 4A district round.

All five players were TNT All-Area picks this season.

Former Auburn Mountainview lineman Keanu Mailoto also signed with Arizona following two junior college seasons, including playing this fall for Mt. San Antonio College in California.

STATE’S TOP QUARTERBACK HEADED TO SEC

The state’s top-ranked quarterback is officially headed to the SEC.

After leading Lincoln to an undefeated 3A Pierce County League title and the 3A state quarterfinals this fall, four-star recruit Gabarri Johnson signed with Missouri on Wednesday.

“It feels good,” Johnson said following a signing ceremony in the Lincoln gym. “I think just going through the whole recruitment process and then committing to a school and all of that is cool — but once you finally sign, nothing feels as good as this point.”

Johnson committed to Missouri in May over offers from eight more FBS programs.

“It was just everything,” he said of why he chose Missouri. “The vibe I got there, the opportunity to play, I loved how the school was. Just everything about that.”

Johnson stuck with the Tigers despite quarterbacks coach Bush Hamdan — who initially recruited him — announcing his departure for the offensive coordinator job at Boise State last week.

Johnson said the rest of the coaching staff also made Missouri feel like home, and is still looking forward to the opportunity to compete there.

“I just still loved MIzzou so much,” he said.

In his final season at Lincoln, Johnson led the Abes in both passing and rushing, completing 133-of-190 passes for 2,301 yards and 25 TDs and adding another 177 carries for 1,639 yards and 21 scores.

He was also named the 3A PCL MVP and The News Tribune’s All-Area player of the year.

“He’s meant a lot,” Lincoln coach Masaki Matsumoto said. “Through all the Zoom meetings during COVID, he was at all of them. Junior year obviously he had a special year. And then we’re like, he’s not going to top that, and then he tops it.”

In 37 career games with the Abes, Johnson piled up 8,903 total yards and 111 total touchdowns.

Johnson is considered the No. 4 player in Washington in the 2023 class by 247Sports Composite, and the No. 21 quarterback nationally in the class.

SOUTH SOUND’S TOP-RANKED RECRUIT SIGNS WITH OKLAHOMA

Spanaway Lake defensive back Jasiah Wagoner signed with Oklahoma on Wednesday. Wagoner is considered a four-star recruit by 247sports.com and the No. 2 player in Washington in the 2023 class behind Rainier Beach corner Caleb Presley, who signed with Washington on Wednesday.

Wagoner held 16 offers and chose the Sooners over UW, Oregon, Texas, Notre Dame and others.

Wagoner, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound corner, is considered one of the state’s premier lockdown corners. He featured mostly at safety for Spanaway Lake this fall but will most likely play corner in college. Lingering injuries prevented Wagoner from ever being fully healthy in 2022, but he still made his presence felt for the Sentinels.

He was the 3A Pierce County League co-defensive back of the year and a first-team selection to The News Tribune’s 2022 All-Area team, racking up 41 tackles and an interception, as teams mostly shied away from throwing in his direction.

Wagoner committed to Oklahoma in July.

SOUTH SOUND SIGNINGS

Here is the full list of South Sound football players who signed with Division I programs Wednesday:

Auburn Mountainview — Keanu Mailoto, Arizona (from Mt. San Antonio College)

Auburn Riverside — Nathan Pritchard, Washington State

Eatonville — Kyle Cox, Boise State; Tristan Lewis, Portland State

Emerald Ridge — Jacob Lane, Washington

Federal Way — Tylin Jackson, Eastern Washington; Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington; Andre Jordan, Oregon State

Kennedy Catholic — Micah Banuelos, USC; Maclane Watkins, Hawaii

Kentridge — Dorian Thomas, Arizona

Lakes — Leo Pulalasi, Washington State; David Wells, Lakes

Lincoln of Tacoma — Gabarri Johnson, Missouri

North Thurston — Julian Lee, Idaho

Spanaway Lake — Zion Jones, Eastern Washington; Jasiah Wagoner, Oklahoma

Timberline — Lysander Moelo, Syracuse (from Navarro College)

Tumwater — Carlos Matheney, Idaho