Feb. 11, 2026 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor
The current recruiting cycle for the Wolves concluded Feb. 4 and saw the Wolves add a total of 44 recruits in what some are calling the strongest class ever brought to Monmouth. The 44 additions are a significantly larger group than the Wolves have brought in over the past two years, having 29 in 2025 and 27 in 2024. The class sets a great foundation for the future of a Wolves football program that is coming off of its strongest season since 2007, going 8-3 and coming up just short of a Lone Star Conference title. In addition, the class keeps a strong focus on players within the region, with 41 of the 44 signees coming from either Oregon or Washington and the remaining three coming from either California or Hawaii.
Head coach Arne Ferguson, who was the 2025 Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year and is entering his 21st season in the role, mentioned the advantage Western has in regional recruiting, saying, “The combination of our success in recent years, the quality conference we’re in and us being the only Division II school in the state, this is an exciting opportunity for players in our region to come and play at a very high level.”
The Wolves leaned heavily on the trenches in this class, signing 10 defensive linemen and eight offensive linemen. Last season, the Wolves had the fourth-best rushing offense in the LSC at 4.5 yards per carry and tied for first in the conference on the other side of the field, allowing only 3.1 yards per carry to opponents. These additions along both lines should allow Western to continue with this playstyle and grow stronger within it, providing significant depth after recent departures at both positions, notably those of Joseph Northcutt and Emilio Castaneda, who were both team captains in 2025 as well as seniors at defensive and offensive line positions, respectively. One notable addition along the defensive line is Brady Knowlton, a six-foot-two-inch, 300-pound linebacker from Chiawana High School in Washington who was first team All-State in 4A and won the Mid Columbia Conference Lineman of the Year award in 2025. The linebacker room was also hit with significant departures as Malcolm Liufau and Aden Murphy, both standouts and captains on the defensive end, have completed their final seasons as Wolves. The team added six linebackers and two running backs in this year’s class, which should further aid in the running game on both sides of the ball.
The passing game was not neglected, however. The Wolves picked up seven defensive backs, three quarterbacks, four receivers and a tight end. Western did struggle a bit in both pass coverage and in gaining yards through the air last season, coming in ninth for both pass defense and offense in terms of yards gained and allowed per attempt.
Western added two athletes under the “athlete” designation, meaning it’s still to be determined what role they will play for the Wolves. One of these players, Jarret Martin, is a Banks High School product who had 3,550 total yards, 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions over his last two seasons. Martin was first team All-State at the 3A level as a tight end/wide receiver and third team All-State as a defensive back. Ethan Adams was brought on at the quarterback position after completing his high school career at Battle Ground High School, where he won the Greater St. Helens League offensive MVP in 2025, putting up 1,586 passing yards and 17 passing touchdowns. Kellen Bailey is another enticing prospect for the Wolves as a six-foot-seven-inch wide receiver out of Summit High School. Bailey’s size at the receiver position could make him an interesting weapon in the Wolves’ passing offense within the coming seasons.
The heavy emphasis on high school recruitment will be a refreshing sight for some who’ve grown tired of the transfer portal system often seeing teams moving away from high school recruiting and focusing on established players. Many have raised concerns that in this new era, high school players are being passed up, thus making it increasingly difficult for them to receive a high-quality opportunity. However, the Wolves seem to be pushing high school recruitment more than ever, which could signal a more long-term recruiting strategy in this new and largely uncharted landscape where every program at all levels is working to understand where they can find the strongest advantage with the resources provided to them. Some smaller schools, such as Western, may find that with larger schools moving away from a heavy portion of high school recruits, they have a newfound advantage in locating local talent and bringing them on.
Western football will now set its sights on spring camp and sorting out its lineups for next season. It remains to be seen how much of a role some of the new signees play in their first seasons this fall, but they will certainly have the opportunity to compete and set a foundation for high-quality play to keep the football program trending in the right direction. Fans should keep an eye out for any announcements from the university’s athletics department regarding the date and time for the 2026 spring game, which is an exciting opportunity for fans to get their first look at the roster heading into the upcoming season.
Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu
