What you need to know for Boise State football's signing day

RECRUIT DRAMA?

In today’s era of the Internet, fan sites, message board and social media, National Signing Day is no longer a secret. Most recruiting news is widely reported before players sign on the dotted line.

In Boise State’s case, at least one more mystery remains.

Dylan Cozens, a defensive end out of Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Ariz., will announce his college choice during a 10 a.m. live webcast.

The site: FOXSportsArizona.com

The mystery: Cozens will choose between Boise State, Washington and Arizona.

TODAY'S FAN EVENTS

• Boise State will host its official National Signing Day celebration at 5 p.m. on the sixth floor of the Stueckle Sky Center at Bronco Stadium. Tickets are $50 and include a dinner buffet, no-host bar and parking in the west lot. Fans can visit with coaches and watch videos of each signee. Tickets are good for the women’s basketball game against San Diego State at Taco Bell Arena at 7 p.m.

• KTIK 93.1 FM’s “Idaho Sports Talk” will be live at Buffalo Wild Wings in Meridian for its 15th annual National Signing Day show. The show begins at 1:45 p.m. with audio of Chris Petersen’s press conference and will include live interviews with recruits, player videos and prizes. Admission is free.

• Fox Sports 630 AM is hosting “Treasure Valley High School Signing Day’’ at Mickey Ray’s Roadhouse Barbecue in Eagle. The show is open to the public and starts at 2 p.m.

HARPER GETS 6TH YEAR

Boise State tailback D.J. Harper has received his sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, the school announced Tuesday.

Harper only played three games each in 2009 and 2010 because of torn anterior cruciate ligaments, which allowed him to request another year. Usually, athletes only get five years to complete four seasons.

Harper, who joined the Boise State program in 2007, is the projected starter for 2012. The Cypress, Texas, product has 1,642 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns in his career.

Offensive lineman Cory Yriarte also is expected to receive a sixth year, but the school has not addressed his status.

College football programs nationwide restock their rosters every National Signing Day — what has become the most hyped event of the sport’s offseason.

Boise State’s Class of 2012 will include a mixture of filling immediate needs (defensive end, linebacker) and building for the future (offensive line, defensive backs).

The Broncos have 21 open scholarships, so some of the players likely will grayshirt and join the team next January.

For many of the Broncos’ commits, they’ll put in writing decisions they made last summer. Other schools tried to change their minds, to no avail.

“I was glad I got to commit early and get it out of the way,” said cornerback Donte Deayon of Fontana, Calif. “I feel I picked a great school, so I’m really happy about that.”

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ 23 commitments for the 2012 recruiting class and how they match the program’s needs.

(* indicates players who are enrolledfor the spring semester)

QUARTERBACK

Æ Nick Patti*, 5-11, 195 pounds, Dr. Phillips High School (Orlando, Fla.)

Patti takes the roster spot vacated by Kellen Moore, the winningest quarterback in college football history (50-3). The Florida 8A Player of the Year arrived last month and will participate in spring ball, along with three returning quarterbacks.

RUNNING BACK

Æ Devan Demas, 5-9, 170, Cypress Creek HS (Houston)

Æ Jack Fields, 5-11, 200, Americas HS (El Paso, Texas)

The Broncos lost one tailback (Doug Martin) but needed to rebuild their depth at the position. Senior D.J. Harper will be backed up by senior walk-on Drew Wright and a bunch of question marks.

WIDE RECEIVER

Æ WR/RB Shane Rhodes, 5-7, 160, Klein Collins HS (Spring, Texas)

Æ D.J. Dean, 6-1, 190, Eagle HS

The Broncos are loaded at receiver, losing only Tyler Shoemaker, so they didn’t need to do much in this class. Rhodes is a Vinny Perretta/Mitch Burroughs type who could play receiver, tailback and kick returner.

TIGHT END

Æ Hayden Plinke*, 6-4, 230, Glencoe HS (Hillsboro, Ore.)

Æ Connor Peters*, 6-4, 245, so., Laney College (Antioch, Calif.)

Æ Armand Nance, 6-1, 238, Dekaney HS (Houston)

Plinke grayshirted from last year’s class and replaces Kyle Efaw in the receiving tight end category. Peters hopes to fill a need for a dynamic run blocker.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Æ Steven Baggett, 6-4, 250, Martin HS (Arlington, Texas)

Æ Travis Averill, 6-4, 280, Servite HS (Anaheim, Calif.)

Æ Mario Yakoo, 6-4, 320, Steele Canyon HS (Spring Valley, Calif.)

The three new linemen replace three departed linemen. Four key players return on the line, so this group is about building for the future — and by all accounts it’s a strong group.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Æ Elliot Hoyte*, 6-4, 275, Tavistock, England

Æ Demarcus Lawrence*, 6-4, 248, so., Butler CC (Aiken, S.C.)

Æ Sam McCaskill, 6-4, 240, Sheldon HS (Eugene, Ore.)

The Broncos lost their top five defensive linemen (three ends, two tackles), including three multi-year starters. Three of the linemen are likely to be selected in the NFL Draft. Coaches started the rebuilding process with last year’s class, but they clearly saw a need at end with these three recruits. Two more ends are set to announce their intentions Wednesday morning, and Boise State is expected to get at least one of them.

LINEBACKER

Æ Tyler Gray*, 6-3, 215, Templeton (Calif.) HS

Æ Ben Weaver, 6-1, 225, Klein HS (Spring, Texas)

Æ Andrew Pint, 6-2, 215, Valor Christian HS (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)

Æ LB/N Chris Collins, 6-2, 195, Santa Monica (Calif.) HS

The Broncos lost two scholarship linebackers and already were short at the position. Collins likely will grayshirt, but the other three will have a chance to get on the field immediately. The only established linebackers are seniors J.C. Percy and Tommy Smith and sophomore Blake Renaud, who played as a true freshman last season.

NICKEL

Æ Chris Santini, 6-1, 216, Leland HS (San Jose, Calif.)

Santini takes Hunter White’s roster spot. He is one of the most highly regarded players in this class, ranking No. 11 on the San Jose Mercury News list of the top prospects in the Bay Area.

DEFENSIVE BACK

Æ CB Chaz Anderson, 6-0, 175, Loyola HS (Los Angeles)

Æ CB Donte Deayon, 5-9, 155, Summit HS (Fontana, Calif.)

Æ S Chanceller James, 6-2, 190, Steele Canyon HS (San Diego)

The Broncos have lost three safeties and two cornerbacks. Only two were starters (both safeties), but that’s a big hit to the depth of the secondary. Last year’s recruiting class produced one safety who already has contributed, Lee Hightower, and another who is expected to make an impact this year, Taylor Loffler. The two starting corners are seniors — Jerrell Gavins and Jamar Taylor — which gives Anderson and Deayon time to develop.

SPECIALISTS

Æ P/K Sean Wale, 6-2, 180, La Habra HS (Whittier, Calif.)

Wale takes the punter scholarship that Brad Elkin held the past five seasons. He also will provide some additional competition at kicker, where redshirt freshman Jake Van Ginkel is on scholarship.

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398