Idaho is not the first place most college coaches think of when seeking out the nation’s best high school football players.

In fact, we’re far down the list of must-visit recruiting destinations.

That sentiment may be on its way out.

This summer, Idaho was thrust into the spotlight when Eagle High standout Tanner Mangum was named the MVP of the Elite 11 quarterback camp in California.

Mangum joins a growing list of Idaho quarterbacks to land a Division I scholarship at a Football Bowl Subdivision program. He made an oral commitment in April to play for BYU.

“Tanner’s performance puts Idaho on the map as far as a place for great athletes and good quarterbacks,” longtime Centennial High coach Lee Neumann said. “I think it will help our state.”

Other recent high-profile quarterback signings, such as Bishop Kelly’s Cody Hawkins (Colorado), Highland’s Taysom Hill (BYU) and Eagle’s Taylor Kelly (Arizona State), also have helped to dispel the myth that Idaho football doesn’t measure up to the rest of the country.

“The amount of recruiting attention that colleges place on Idaho has escalated,’’ Eagle coach Paul Peterson said. “They’re finding out that there’s good football programs and good football players here, that you just can’t go by stereotypes or statistics exclusively.

“People are going further to do their homework on what types of athletes are around here. ... Idaho football is not looked at as a third-world country anymore.”

Part of that shift can be attributed to the rise of Boise State football, which can no longer be assured the pick of the litter when it comes to Idaho athletes. If Boise State is interested in an Idaho kid, other top programs scramble for a look, too. BYU became aware of Mangum after Boise State offered him a scholarship last fall.

Technology also is helping Idaho athletes stand out. In the past, why come to Idaho to see one Division I prospect when a coach can catch half a dozen in one game in Texas? Now coaches can easily download a video — from their office.

“We’ve always had great talent and great coaching,’’ Mangum said, “but we’re benefiting from technology and being able to get our names out there.”

Thanks to Mangum and other Idaho athletes like him, the rest of the country is finally starting to notice.