With Twin Falls High School graduate Ricky Akridge acting as the ringleader, he and two buddies from Canyon Ridge are trekking to Iowa to play college sports.

Akridge and Colton Sweesy signed letters of intent to play football and Burhan Hetemi a letter to participate in track and field at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa on Wednesday.

Akridge began his college search after the football season, sending his highlight videos to dozens of schools across the country.

"I was just hoping any school would get back to me," Akridge said.

The NAIA school called him this spring showing their interest and it was then time for Akridge to round up his buddies.

He told Hetemi and Sweesy about Briar Cliff at the District IV track meet in May, and the three took a campus visit together in June.

"It was a great trip," Akridge said. "I knew a little bit about the campus and the atmosphere from (Twin Falls boys basketball coach Matt) Harr, but the team and coaches came to us and really took care of us as teammates and friends as well."

The trio will follow in the footsteps of Harr and Jerome football coach Gary Krumm, who both played baseball at Briar Cliff.

Sweesy originally signed to play for Montana Tech in March, but had a change of heart and was granted a release by the school.

"I went back to Montana and told them I had decided to go to Iowa. It was no disrespect to Montana Tech, they have a great program, but I felt like this was a better fit for me," Sweesy said. "It came together and worked out, and worked out for the best."

Akridge and Sweesy will suit up for a Chargers' team that went 2-9 last season, including a 1-9 mark in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, which features powers Sioux Falls and Morningside.

Both are expected to play receiver in the Chargers' offense that is evolving from a spread attack to a more balanced set emphasizing the run. They are confident they can step in and play right away with the team returning only one player who has recorded a reception.

"That was a big reason for me to choose them," Akridge said. "I like the idea of stepping in right away and contributing."

Hetemi has the chance to not only step in to the track and field team, but leave a big mark on the program. The Canyon Ridge graduate finished third in the long jump at this spring's state track meet and has a personal best mark of 22 feet 6 inches, two inches away from the Briar Cliff school record.

"That'd be sweet (to get the record)," Hetemi said. "I love that sport, am passionate about it and I'm happy to go to school and get a good education and do something I love."

He's also pumped to be going to school with his two best friends.

"That's a really cool deal. I'm excited that we're all in this together," Hetemi said. "It will be good to have a support system out there."