Colony graduate to play college football in Idaho

Ridge Spencer was born into a basketball family. He grew up with his siblings on the court. Early in his high school career he gave another sport a shot. Spencer emerged as one of the top players in the Colony High School football program. And now, the 2025 CHS graduate has the opportunity to continue his football career.

Earlier this spring, Spencer signed a National Letter of Intent to attend College of Idaho and play for the Yotes.

Spencer’s football career started during his sophomore year at CHS.

“My friends wanted me to play,” he said. “If my friends were doing it, I wanted to do it too.”

Another former Colony High standout who also went on to play for the Yotes, Jordan Nero, helped Spencer land a spot in the Yotes program.

“He saw my tape, that I was good enough to play, and reached out to them,” Spencer said of Nero, a 2016 Colony graduate who was named the Railbelt Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Nero played four seasons at the Caldwell, Idaho, school.

“It made me feel good. There’s no personal connection between us, and he thought I was good enough to play at the next level,” Spencer said.

Spencer stood out on both sides of the ball with the Knights, at wide receiver and defensive back. As a senior, he was named first-team All-Cook Inlet Conference at receiver and led Alaska’s Division I class with 51 catches. Spencer said he will play on defense with the Yotes.

“I love it. I love to hit. I love to go and get interceptions,” Spencer said.

Spencer said there is interest in him playing a hybrid safety and linebacker position.

Spencer also played basketball for the Knights, and was named his team’s top defensive player during the Northern Lights Conference awards ceremony.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.