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Dec 6, 2024; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos tight end Matt Lauter (85) leads the team onto the field before the game against the UNLV Rebels at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images | Brian Losness-Imagn Images
Welcome to the first post in our twelve-part recruiting breakdown series. Today will look at the #1 team in our rankings, Boise State. The Broncos arguably signed their best class ever, and certainly a top mid-major class for 2026. To understand how talented this class is, read below.
The Skinny:
- Recruits signed: 46
- High school: 28
- JUCO: 6
- Transfers: 12
- Offensive: 21
- Defensive: 22
- Special Teams: 3
- Number of 4-stars per 247 rankings: 2
- Number of 3-stars per 247 rankings: 26
- Players with a rating over 88: 7
- Players with a rating over 85: 17
- Players with a rating over 82: 4
- Breakdown by state (excluding transfers):
- California: 10
- Idaho: 3
- Texas: 3
- Arizona: 2
- Oregon: 2
- Alaska: 1
- Colorado: 1
- Georgia: 1
- Hawaii: 1
- International: 1
- Nevada: 1
- Oklahoma: 1
- Washington: 1
- 247 Rankings (subject to change)
- Recruiting: 52
- Transfer: 91
- Overall: 63
High School Players:
QB Jackson Taylor
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Stand out skills:
- Accurate passer on the run
- Strong knowledge of where receivers will be on every play
- Maneuvers well in the pocket to avoid pressure
- Easy throwing motion with a strong arm
QB Cash Herrera
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Stand out skills:
- Huge arm with nice touch on deep throws
- Effective running ability when plays break down
- Strong build makes him difficult to bring down
- Accurate passer, hitting receivers in stride
RB Mariyon Sloan
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Stand out skills:
- Demonstrates patience in the backfield, but hits top speed at the line of scrimmage
- Bowls over defenders, breaking tackles with ease
- Ability to catch out of the backfield
- Makes quick cuts in the second level to make defenders miss
RB Keilan Chavies
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Stand out skills:
- Features an array of moves to get by the defense for extra yards
- Has the hands of a receiver, consistently making difficult catches
- Breakaway speed in the open field, outrunning everyone else for explosive plays
- Displays good decision-making to reverse course or bounce to the outside
WR Terrious Favors
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Stand out skills:
- Dynamic athlete who can impact the game in all three phases every time he touches the ball
- Smooth change of direction while still maintaining top speed.
- Can make defenders miss in tight spaces
- Can line up in multiple spots on offense and execute well
WR AJ Logan
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Stand out skills:
- Racks up yards after the catch with track speed and jukes
- Reliable hands to pull down difficult catches on the run
- Displays agility in the slot with a knack for changing direction in tight spaces
- Projects to be an electric returner on special teams
WR Rasean Jones
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Stand out skills:
- Great vision to find the holes and get into the open field
- Long strides lead to instant separation from defenders
- Crisp route-runner who changes direction easily
- Versatile player who can make an impact as a rusher, receiver, and returner
TE Keawe Browne
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Stand out skills:
- Plus hands in traffic to come down with passes
- Matchup nightmare with his height and speed combination, especially on deep routes
- Fights for every extra yard after the catch
- Demonstrates his strength as a blocker in the run game
TE Beckham Hofland
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Stand out skills:
- Physical player capable of making big blocks to take out the defense
- Solid hands and sneaky speed as a pass-catcher
- Can line up in the slot or next to tackles, depending on the need
- Goes max effort on every player, getting the most out of his talent
TE Ryan Brekke
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Stand out skills:
- Well-rounded tight end who can impact an offense in multiple ways
- Smooth cuts to create space from the defense
- Strong asset in the run game, opening up big holes for running backs
- Tough to bring down after the catch, often requiring multiple defenders
OL Connor LaGrow
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Stand out skills:
- Menacing blocker, locking on to players until the whistle blows
- Squares up nicely and overpowers them with his strength
- Nimble on his feet in pass protection
- Keeps his head up to prepare for how the defense is attacking him
OL Hakeim Smalls
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Stand out skills:
- Mobile linemen who can function as a lead blocker in the second level or pull on other plays
- Drives his man back out of the play with lower-body power
- Physical as soon as the ball is snapped, initiating contact
- Strong execution of his assignment on each play
OL Kole Cronin
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Stand out skills:
- Easy strength, effortlessly move people out of the play
- Smooth fundamentals, constantly in proper position in pass protection
- Explodes into action with a quick first step
- Lots of room to add to his frame going forward
OL Sua Faleagafua
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Stand out skills:
- Impressive footwork and agility in the pocket
- Mobile, able to get into the second level with his blocks in front of runners
- Solid technique in pass protection
- Able to negate the speed of pass-rushers with his athleticism
DL Rowan Rupp
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Stand out skills:
- High-energy player who goes all out every play
- Regularly fight through double-teams to make an impact
- Quick first step and takes good angles off the edge
- Fierce tackler who can bring players down while fighting off blocks
DL Paz St. John
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Stand out skills:
- Frequest causes havoc in the backfield after winning his matchups
- Wraps up quarterbacks with his long arms and brings them down however he can
- Possesses sneaky speed after his first few steps
- Capable of lining up inside and outside on the d-line
DL Deuce Alailefaleula
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Stand out skills:
- Immediately gets in the backfield, pushing linemen out of the way
- Violent tackler, bringing players down with force
- Able to generate a good interior pass-rush
- Doesn’t give up on plays, chasing down ball-carriers all over the field
DE Corey Webb Jr.
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Stand out skills:
- High-motor player off the edge, in constant motion to make a play
- Displays good play recognition so he doesn’t overpursue
- Strong support in the run game, chase backs down to complete a tackle
- Too quick for tackles, blowng by them before they can react
EDGE Gustaf Henriks Ras
Stand out skills:
- Long and athletic, ideal build to be an edge-rusher
- Regularly wins matchups with his speed
- Strong, pushing through blocks to get into the backfield
- More advanced than average foreign football player
LB CD Nuno
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Stand out skills:
- Able to cover a lot of ground with his speed
- Finishes tackles well in the open field
- Able to close quickly and make a play on the ball
- Time on offense will help him with play recognition and coverage
LB Rocky Dunn
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Stand out skills:
- Strong in coverage with great closing speed on the ball
- Textbook tackler in run support, squaring up on hits
- Good play recognition allows him to consistently be in the proper position
- Solid game speed to move all around the field to make a play
LB Adam Auston
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Stand out skills:
- An instinctual and athletic player who is always around the ball to make an impact
- Flies around the field, making violent tackles to stop ball carriers in their tracks
- Versatile athlete with the ability to play multiple positions at a high level
- Moves well laterally and going backward while keeping his eyes on the ball
DB Romeo Carter
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Stand out skills:
- Stand out speed and change of direction ability
- Playmaker in the secondary who consistently comes up with interceptions and deflections
- Great hands from his time as a wide receiver
- At his best as a deep safety who can close in on WRs as he tracks the ball in the air
DB Jacob Arbuckle II
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Stand out skills:
- Plus speed, outrunning everyone else on the field once he gets going
- Great instincts that allow him to jump routes and break up pass plays
- Effortless change of direction to help keep up with receivers
- Hard-hitting player who keeps WRs from getting yards after the catch
DB Madden Soliai
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Stand out skills:
- Anticipates passes and flocks to the ball to disrupt passes
- Great tackler in the open field, bringing players down by any means necessary
- Knack for ripping the ball out and forcing fumbles
- Dynamic special teams play as both a returner and displays the ability to block kicks
DB Davin Hill
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Stand out skills:
- Strong in press coverage, smuthering pass catchers
- Able to outleap wide receivers to get his hands on the ball
- Physical hitter in the open field
- Solid in run defense, especially in the flat
Team Writer Thoughts:
Boise State went offense-heavy with its focus this recruiting cycle, nabbing a pair of talented quarterbacks that will compete for QB2 as true freshmen. The star of this class is without a doubt Terrious Favors, the 5-9 wide receiver who had offers from five P4 schools, including Georgia, Louisville, and Wisconsin. One would expect him to find the field early in his career. With tight end Matt Lauter finishing his eligibility, head coach Spencer Danielson spent no time finding potential puzzle pieces to fit alongside Matt Wagner via Keawe Browne and local Idahoan Ryan Brekke. On the other side of the ball, the Broncos improved their athleticism at linebacker, led by Adam Auston and some potential project players who could develop into reliable assets.
Overall, this is the type of class that should place Boise State at the top of the Pac-12 for years to come, and after the Maddux Madsen era concludes.
Quick Hits:
(High school players only)
Headliner(s):
Mike: Favors, Herrera, Browne, Cronin, Auston
Aiden: Favors, Herrera, Cronin, Chavies
Prominent Talent:
Mike: Chavies, Soliai, Taylor, Jones
Aiden: Auston, Browne, Jones, Soliai, Taylor
Favorite Recruit(s):
Mike: Auston, Taylor
Aiden: Henriks Ras, Herrera
Sleeper Recruit(s):
Mike: Hill, Smalls
Aiden: Faleagafua, Alailefaleula
Best unit(s):
Mike: Quarterback, Tight End, Wide Receiver
Aiden: Quarterback, Tight End, Wide Receiver
Transfer Players:
Here is the list of transfer players Boise State signed. We are moving away from commenting on their film, as it’s often many years outdated by this point, and frankly, it’s become too time-consuming. Jack is doing a tremendous job commenting on transfer players in his transfer tracker. Instead, this section will comment on the class as a whole in terms of attempting to address needs and overall philosophy.
RB Juelz Goff
RB Harry Stewart III
WR Akeem Wright
WR Darren Morris
OL Ashton Kershner
OL Tyler Ethridge
OL Zander Esty
DT Adonte Medley
DL Andrew Rheubottom
DL Mikaio Edward
LB Zyhaire Lewis
LB Logan Brantley
DB Kyle Hall
DB Jerico Washington Jr
DB Taebron Bennie-Powell
DB Cam Jamerson
DB Roman Tillmon
LS Caden Kellow
Boise State appeared to take on a bit of a new approach with the transfer portal this year. For starters, they signed the more transfers than past years, leaning into experienced talent while still being a developmental program at their core. Also, there was a clear priority on bringing in players who had game experience, which resulted in a higher number of junior college, FCS, or lower-level FBS experience. Given the success other teams have had with this approach, it seems like a good decision on paper. Boise State filled almost every position on need on the roster, but improving wide receiver, the offensive line, linebacker, and defensive back was vital.
Summary:
Boise State has recruited at the top of the Mountain West for years, but returned to the top of the Group of 6 in this cycle for the first time since 2019. This class represents what the blueprint should be for future recruiting classes. If the program can continue to sign a few four-stars, numerous high-three stars, and have little drop-off in talent in the bottom half of the class, while supplementing the roster with transfers who have game experience, they should continue to rank in the low fifties in the recruiting rankings. More importantly, the Broncos are injecting more talent in their roster for future CFP runs as they attempt to win games against top P4 teams. Look for many in this class to see the field in 2026.
Coming tomorrow: UNLV
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