Carroll College announced its first group of signees for the 2010 recruiting class on Wednesday, and while it might not be big in numbers, it isn't lacking in all-star performers.

Coinciding with the NCAA's National Signing Day, the Saints - who finished 2009 with a 13-1 record and their 10th straight Frontier Conference title before ending in the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs - have released the names of eight players that will join the team this year. Another group of signees is expected to be released next week.

Four of the recent additions are from Idaho and two from Washington, but the first two to sign were Montanans Sean Condon and Blake Stenzel.

"I am very excited about this first wave of student-athletes who have committed to Carroll College,"  said head coach Mike Van Diest, who recently completed his 11th season at Carroll. "Sean Condon and Blake Stenzel are two in-state players that we have recruited since last spring. We watched them as juniors and felt that they would be difference-makers early in their careers."

Both look to play in defensive positions where the Saints lost key starters in the offseason.

Condon, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker (who is expected to move to defensive end) from Laurel High School finished as a first-team all-state selection in 2008 and 2009. A strong all-around athlete, he placed third in discus at the Class A state track and field meet and is part of a Locomotives basketball team ranked first on the season.

Selected to play in the East/West Shrine and the Mon/Dak all-star games this summer, Condon backs up his athletic prowess with a 4.0 GPA and is a Wendy's Heisman State Finalist.

He will be a strong addition to a defensive line that was considered to be the most dominant in Van Diest's tenure in 2009. All-American honorable mention Mike Ogrin and fellow defensive end Garrett Thompson both graduate while Travis Schmidt and Mason Siddick are expected to return in the middle.

Stenzel mirrors Condon's success on the playing field and in the classroom. The 6-0, 190-pound C. M. Russell defensive end made waves first by breaking the school record for sacks in a game with five, then as a part of the Rustler squad that defeated Capital High, ending a three-year undefeated streak for the Class AA state title. He is expected to play linebacker.

Stenzel has carried a 3.9 GPA while collecting first-team all-state honors in 2009 and a second-team naming his junior year. He is expected to play in the East/West Shrine Game this summer and is a three-year letterman in track.

He could have an impact on a linebacking corps that has had a tremendous turnover rate the last two years. In 2008, five linebackers, including three starters, graduated while four, including starters Mac Gordon and Shane Van Diest, leave this offseason.

Logan Chidester, a 6-2, 215-pound linebacker out of Blackfoot High School in Blackfoot, Idaho, joins Stenzel in the position after a first-team all-state season. He brings another winning tradition to the five-time NAIA champions, having won state titles in 2007 and 2009. He was also an all-conference running back.

While their football backgrounds are impressive, it was Chidester and Tyson Cooper's abilities on the basketball courts that sold Van Diest.

"Tyson Cooper and Logan Chidester from Southern Idaho are two players who are excellent student-athletes and their skills on the basketball floor made them very attractive to fit into our program," Van Diest said. "They both have tremendous work ethic."

With the Saints' tendency to move athletes from one position, from defense to offense and vice versa, the coaches often look for the best athletes to fill roles.

Cooper is projected to be an offensive tackle though he's played as a tight end and defensive lineman for Soda Springs High School in Soda Springs, Idaho. The 6-4, 237-pound senior is a three-year letterman in football and basketball and one in baseball while joining the school's honor roll.

Van Diest also picked up one more tight end to add to the long list of stars at the position.

"Cole Coba was the top-rated tight end on our board and we feel he will follow in the footsteps of (Casey) FitzSimmons, (Marshall) McEwen and (Bubba) Bartlett," the coach said.

All three tight ends were named NAIA All-Americans and Bartlett will return next year for his senior season.

Coba, a 6-2½, 225-pounder from Centennial High School in Boise was named All-Southern Idaho Conference first-team and second-team all-state.

The 2009 Idaho All-Star Game selection caught 44 passes for 803 yards for a 18.2 average/per catch in two years. He also handled the kickoff duties at Centennial and was voted most improved offensive lineman his senior year.

"We love Cole, he's bigger than we thought he was," Van Diest said, adding that Coba played wide receiver his first two years, making him an excellent catcher.

The final three recruits add depth to the skilled positions.

Jordan Pine, a 5-10, 185-pound running back from Olympia High School in Olympia, Wash., was named All-Offensive Player of the Year and All-Narrows League Offensive MVP after following up a 700-yard performance his junior year with 1,800 as a senior. He also scored 23 TD's and was nominated for the East/West All-Star Game in June.

The Saints will be without three-year starter and 2007 NAIA national championship MVP Gabe Le at running back while John Camino and Jeff Deal return for their senior years. With the future in mind, Van Diest said he wanted to stock up on running backs that will join soon-to-be sophomore Chance Demarais.

"Camino played early, Le played early, and Chance Demarais as a redshirt freshman," Van Diest said. "We wanted to bring in some running backs in this class, maybe four, five or six."

Trey Infanger, a 6-0, 170-pound wide receiver out of Salmon High School in Salmon, Idaho, was a first-team all-state selection on offense and second-team on defense his final two seasons. During the past two years, Infanger has 96 receptions for 1,822 yards and 17 TDs. On defense he had 10 interceptions and 66 tackles.

C.J. Tanner, a 5-11, 165-pound defensive back from Lakeside High School in Nine Mile Falls, Wash., was a two-way star and team captain. He led his team with six interceptions and over 1,300 yards of total offense. He has also lettered in basketball and wrestling and is a National Honor Society member

The list of recruits were joined by Montana State transfer Josh Ziegger, a linebacker out of Florence, University of Mary transfers Joey Olson and Zach Balcom and Mike Bruce of Washington State earlier in the winter.

"We're not done yet, we've got a number to go these next few weeks," Van Diest said. "(Assistant coaches Jim Hogan, Nick Howlett and Jarrod Wirt) have worked their tails off this winter.

"When we kids get on campus they're going to be very impressed with our program."