Imbler's Justin Frost sprints to the end zone for a touchdown against Crane on Sept. 15, 2023, at Eastern Oregon University's Community Stadium, La Grande. 

IMBLER — Idaho State head football coach Cody Hawkins was clear how he feels about his recent signee from Eastern Oregon.

“He is a big athletic dude coming from a blue-collar family and that is what we are looking for,” the second-year head coach said after Imbler senior Justin Frost signed a letter of intent to play college football in Pocatello, Idaho, for the Bengals. The Panther recently announced his decision to attend the school after visits and conversations with a number of college programs aiming to add to their offense.

Frost also visited Eastern Washington University prior to making a decision to join the Bengals and actually had a preferred walk-on offer from the Eagles.

“My dad told me to just attend one more camp at Idaho State and see what happens,” Frost said. “Everything changed after that.”

After an official visit, phone calls and discussions with parents and Imbler coaches, Frost made the decision to become a Bengal.

“It is just a better fit for me,” he said. “The whole atmosphere there better fits my values and I just really like Coach Hawkins and what he has going on there. Idaho State is going to shock a lot of people in the next few years.”

The Bengals are coming off a 3-8 season in 2023, including a 3-5 record in the Big Sky Conference.

Idaho State announced the signing of 15 players on Dec. 21, which is the first day of the early signing period when high school and junior college players can make their commitments official. Included in those signings were five offensive linemen, all high school players, and two safeties — one a junior college player, the other a four-year transfer.

Plenty of work ahead

While Frost was easily recognizable on the 8-man field standing at 6 feet, 5 inches and tipping the scale at 255 pounds, college football calls for him to be closer to 280 pounds to play offensive tackle with the Bengals.

“I understand a lot of eating and weight room work is ahead of me,” Frost said. “One positive is Idaho State has partnered with a supplement company, Black Label Supplements, so that is taken care of.”

After seeing the fields of Eastern Oregon on an 8-man squad, Frost is not worried about making the transition to collegiate 11-man after speaking with the staff at Idaho State.

“We talked a lot about playing 11-man since I have not played that football since fifth grade,” he said. “The coaches explained I will be making the transition to college football, not 11-man. Every freshman has to learn and make the change to the size and speed of college football. The game itself is just so much more complex.”

One more change from the fields of Imbler, Cove and Adrian to college ball will be playing indoors while the snow flies outside in Pocatello.

Frost is joining a team that plays on a newly remodeled field and stands with the offensive line room also newly redone. Plans to expand and update the weight room are in the planning stages.

“It is just great down there,” Frost said.

Looking back

The experience in Pocatello will start soon after Imbler’s graduation. Frost is expected to report a mere two or three weeks following walking the graduation walk as a Panther.

Frost helped lead Imbler to an 8-2 overall record, including a 5-1 mark in 1A-Special District 2 and an appearance in the OSAA 1A 8-man quarterfinals, where the Panthers fell to St. Paul, 34-22. For the season, Frost was a second-team selection for his work at defensive end and an honorable mention choice at receiver.

As Frost prepares for the new road ahead, picking a single outstanding memory to pinpoint took some thought and pondering before he finally decided on a game on the road this past season.

“In my whole time at Imbler, we had never beaten the Adrian Antelopes,” he said. “We played our best game and beat them this year on their own field. That stands out for me.”

Looking to the future, a career as a gym owner is in the plans for Frost. The present involves an ongoing basketball season and taking the time to thank those who made the future possible.

“Of course, my parents are responsible for all this,” he said. “Especially my dad, who kept pushing me to continue to reach out and attend that one more camp in Pocatello. My brothers have always been there for me and Coach Adams for helping me through this recruiting process.”

One thing Frost will no longer need to do now that the decision is made is explain to college coaches exactly what or where Imbler is.

“When coaches don’t even know where La Grande is, I had tough time explaining exactly where Imbler is,” he said.