Kenji Scanlan, a 6-foot-3-inch, 245-pound edge rusher at Yelm, found his next home following a successful high school career. The first team all South Sound Conference defensive lineman verbally committed to the University of Idaho on July 4 and signed with the Vandals on Dec. 20.
In the last several years, the Yelm Tornados’ football program has earned the reputation of playing a smash-mouth, aggressive defense with different styles of athletes lined up across the board. After a strong junior season, Scanlan would go on to break out in 2023 and made his presence felt in every game in which he played.
Finishing the season with 68 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, Scanlan earned first team all-SSC honors at the defensive end position. Scanlan’s best performances as a Tornado came deep in the playoffs in a 3A quarterfinal matchup against Mount Tahoma and a 3A semifinal contest against Eastside Catholic. He totaled 21 tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss across those two postseason matchups.
For Scanlan, the biggest attribute he’ll take from the Yelm Tornados’ program to the Idaho Vandals program is a sense of family. Scanlan said, through bonding and working with his new teammates, he’ll make new friendships and relationships that go beyond football, much like he did as a Tornado.
“Yelm was like an extended family to me, a brotherhood,” Scanlan said. “To be able to have that and take that in, I want to take that to Idaho.”
Scanlan connected with Idaho’s outside linebackers coach Kapono Roy Asuega prior to his senior season beginning in 2023. The Vandal signee connected with Asuega at the Avery Strong Showcase at the University of Puget Sound on June 4, and one month later Scanlan committed to becoming a Vandal.
“He wanted me to compete against Papa (Isendre Ahfua, Texas A&M signee from O’Dea), who is the top lineman in the state this year. Once he saw that I was able to compete with the high-ranked players, we just basically connected,” Scanlan said. “(Asuega) even puts culture in front of everything else. That’s important to me.”
After building a strong connection with Asuega, Scanlan said ultimately the relationships formed with Idaho’s coaching staff led to his commitment.
“Being able to go down to their summer camp and compete against other athletes there, showcase myself by showing them that I can be what they wanted me to be, made me feel like Idaho would be home,” Scanlan said. “It feels great to be a Vandal. It feels promising as well to know they believe in me as much as they believe in other athletes, to come in and do my best, to compete with them.”
Scanlan will report to Moscow, Idaho, in either July or August. He’ll graduate at Yelm in June and continue working on the field to improve as a player.
“In the meantime, I’m going to get ready for college football. I know it’s more fast paced, more physical. I’ll keep training and going to the gym, as well as preparing myself mentally and physically to compete at the collegiate level,” Scanlan said. “I’m very technical. I’ll be a physical, fast and smart player.”
Setting his goals high, Scanlan aspires to become a member of the FCS freshman All-American Team. He added he has a lot of work to do before he gets to that level, and he wants to “compete with the best and ball out.”
The Tornado football alum also thanked coach Todd Cordova, Yelm’s defensive line coach, for helping him become a better player each week. He said Cordova provided the defensive line with a great game plan each week, which was helpful as a unit.
Like a lot of athletes, Scanlan finds himself playing for a much bigger purpose than himself. He plays for his uncle Michael, with whom he was close.
“It was a difficult journey at first,” Scanlan said. “My freshman year, I didn’t think I was going to play football anymore. It all changed around when I got to talk with my uncle (Michael) before he passed. We had a very deep talk, and after that, I knew what I had to do.”
With his uncle in mind, Scanlan had his best season as a Tornado, including standout performances throughout the season and postseason.
The Vandals’ first game of the 2024 season is scheduled for Aug. 31 in Eugene, Oregon, against the Ducks.
