East Valley defensive end Zeliah Wade announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday that he received his first Division I scholarship offer from Eastern Washington.

The only question some who’ve seen the Red Devils senior play this season might have is – what took ’em so long?

While the East Valley offense had been busy putting up nearly 50 points a game, the defense has held opponents to less than a touchdown and has three straight shutouts going into Saturday afternoon’s Class 2A state first-round game against No. 14 Burlington-Edison at Earl Barden Sr. Field.

To the disappointment of East Valley coach Eric Berg, Wade was second-team all-conference selection despite leading the CWAC in sacks with 10. While he doesn’t have as many sacks this season (7) he’s wreaked havoc in the conference.

Wade figures to be a favorite to win the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year honors when the CWAC awards are announced later this month.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound lineman was virtually unblockable going against a stout Prosser line that includes Montana-recruit Josiah West.

Offenses have double-teamed him, and designed plays in the opposite direction. And in the case of the Rogers quarterback in Saturday’s 56-0 play-in victory against the Pirates, turn tail when nearly running into Wade.

“He’s an absolute monster,” Berg said. “Really happy for him.”

The Big Sky has several commits in the area. Besides West, East Valley receiver Greyson Stevens has committed to Montana State and Moses Lake record-setting quarterback Bray Jay is heading to Montana.