The Cashmere High football program has seen its share of standout athletes over the years, but none with the pedigree of Prin Fox.

After helping lead the Bulldogs to the Class 1A semifinals last season, the senior all-state defensive tackle spent the past year talking to big-name college programs, eventually committing to  UNLV.

But it’s not just that Fox is set to become the program’s first Division I college player; he’s also helped the Bulldogs reestablish the dominance they showed back in 2008 when they won the state title.

“Having a player like Prin go to a D-I program is so big for a community like ours,” seventh-year head coach Bryan Bremer said of the 6-foot-2, 270-pound Fox. “We’re proud of how he’s played, but we’re even more impressed with the legacy he has left.”

With recruiters from programs like Oregon, Boise State, Arizona, Boston College and Washington State — among many others — coming to town to watch Fox play, Bremer said the residual benefits for his program have been immeasurable.

“We have had coaches in our hallways who are now familiar with me and my kids, and that’s all because of Prin,” Bremer said.

Even with all of the attention Fox has received since his standout sophomore season, he’s never let it go to his head. He likes being one of the guys, and he takes pride in being a leader.

“Prin is never ‘too cool for school,’” Bremer said. “He’s just a normal, blue-collar Cashmere kid who believes in working hard and doing things the right way.”

Bremer said Fox is the hardest worker he’s ever coached “by far,” and that level of dedication on and off the field has come to define the program.

“Prin is a culture-changer,” the coach said. “We were already building a pretty good culture and then, all of a sudden, we get a guy like that who takes our entire team to a new level. He’s the type of kid who others believe in and want to be like. We owe a lot of our success to him.”

Fox has never been one to take anything for granted, and he admits to feeling humbled by all of the praise heaped on him by his coaches.

But, when it comes down to it, he’s just a small-town kid who dreams of playing football at the highest level. To get there, he explained that his attitude is to “never be satisfied,” and he is constantly pushing himself and his teammates to get better.

This summer, he led a number of captain-led camps at the high school to help the senior-heavy Bulldogs prepare for the season — one in which they hope to give defending state champion Royal a run for their money.

“I’ve always tried to set an example with the hard work I put in because I really want to win a state championship,” said Fox, a four-year starter who began his high school career at offensive guard. “And to get there, it’s going to take everyone.”

With the 1A title as his north star, Fox inevitably started receiving attention from college programs from each of the Power 5 conferences. He saw his first formal scholarship offer from WSU during his sophomore year, and the list just ballooned from there.

“My dad and I drove around to a bunch of camps, and I really tried to put myself out there,” Fox said. “It was good to meet so many people and see what the recruiting process is all about.”

He ultimately narrowed his decision down to Boise State, Boston College and UNLV, committing to the Rebels in June. In the end, something about the UNLV program just called to him.

“Coach (Dan) Mullen is building a winning program there, and I really liked working with their coaches during my visit,” Fox said. “I got to spend a lot of time with the coaching staff, and they showed me that they’re going to take good care of me. 

That’s when I decided, ‘this is where I want to be.’”

Fox is planning to graduate from high school early so he can move to Las Vegas in the spring and begin training for the 2026 season. He’s not banking on a starting job as a freshman, but the sooner he can get on the practice field, the better chance he will have of cracking the lineup.

“I’m sure I’ll have to work my way into a starting spot, but there are a couple guys graduating this year, so I will have a shot to play right away,” Fox said. “It’s a real blessing to earn a scholarship, and I’m looking forward to showing what I can do at the next level.”