Dream fulfilled: Dutchman lands with Boise State football

Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe came to America from the Netherlands late last summer, dreaming of a college football scholarship and leaving recruiters in a frenzy after one season at Boise High.

The 6-foot-3, 303-pound senior defensive lineman and All-Idaho first-teamer ended a recruiting whirlwind late Wednesday night with a verbal commitment to the Boise State Broncos.

"It feels good. It was a lot of stress," said Tjong-A-Tjoe, who recently took official visits to Boise State, Oregon and Washington State, and turned down a trip to Washington for this weekend.

"I was hoping when I came to Boise that I would get a scholarship offer. I ended up with a bunch of offers, so it was a little surprising."

Boise coach Bob Clark isn't surprised and said Tjong-A-Tjoe (pronounced Chong-A-Chew) is the top high school football recruit in the Treasure Valley.

"Without a doubt,'' he said. "It would have been ridiculous if he had played here as a junior. We would have had every recruiter in the country in town.''

One of five athletes from Amsterdam who played football in the Treasure Valley this past fall, Tjong-A-Tjoe finished the year with 35 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and two sacks. He also caused four fumbles and recovered two.

"He's got phenomenal abilities," Clark said. "He has great feet and hands for a lineman - kind of got the whole package, we think. Once he gets Boise State working with him, he'll be unreal down the road. He's pretty new to the game, so he has unlimited potential."

Tjong-A-Tjoe said he talked to Boise State coach Chris Petersen and committed to the Broncos late Wednesday night.

"I wasn't planning on committing when he came down (to see me), but I'm happy I did," said Tjong-A-Tjoe, who had narrowed down his list of possible destinations to BSU and Oregon.

"I really couldn't go wrong with both of the choices, but this really was where I felt more comfortable. ... I feel like the combination of football, academics and the support system I have in Boise was important."

He and fellow Dutchmen Jeffrey Bediako, Humphrey Koopmans and Donald Alves Fortes helped Boise (5-4) post more than four wins for the first time since 1997.

Geraldo Hiwat, also of the Netherlands, played wide receiver for Capital and verbally committed to Boise State in November. Bediako, a linebacker, committed to Idaho in December.

"I called Geraldo the moment coach Petersen left the house and he was excited," said Tjong-A-Tjoe, who was Boise's third player to commit. "I called Jeffrey, too. I told him I would see him on the field."

Fellow Boise High defensive lineman Tony Schmitz committed to co-Big Sky champion Weber State earlier this month.

"We're just excited because all of these kids get to live out their dream a little more," Clark said.

Tjong-A-Tjoe can sign his letter Wednesday.

BOISE STATE RECRUITS

QB Joe Southwick, 6-2, 190, San Ramon Valley HS (Danville, Calif.)

CB Ebo Makinde, 5-11, 170, Paradise Valley HS (Phoenix)

RB Malcolm Johnson, 5-10, 185, Barlow HS (Gresham, Ore.)

CB Quaylon Ewing, 6-0, 180, Kempner HS (Sugar Land, Texas)

TE/ATH Gabe Linehan, 6-4, 205, Banks (Ore.) HS

LB Allen Mooney, 5-11, 220, O'Dea HS (Seattle)

WR Aaron Burks, 6-4, 180, Mansfield Timberview HS (Arlington, Texas)

LB John Michael Davis, 6-0, 220, Tesoro HS (Las Flores, Calif.)

TE Trevor Peterson, 6-4, 220, El Dorado HS (Placerville, Calif.)

DE Justin Jungblut, 6-6, 248, Saguaro HS (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

DE Kharyee Marshall, 6-3, 208, Washington HS (Phoenix)

WR Kirby Moore, 6-3, 205, Prosser (Wash.) HS

WR Geraldo Hiwat, 6-3, 185, Capital HS (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

OL Bryant Thomas, 6-2, 250, Capital HS (Boise)

QB Mike Tamburo, 6-1, 180, North Gwinnett HS (Suwanee, Ga.)

OT Jake Broyles, 6-6, 250, Foothill HS (Henderson, Nev.)

OT Charles Leno, 6-5, 265, San Leandro (Calif.) HS

S Jonathan Brown, 5-10, 205, Encinal HS (Alameda, Calif.)

DL Ricky Tjong-A-Toe, 6-3, 303, Boise High

ALREADY ENROLLED

OL Spencer Gerke, 6-3, 245, Bishop Kelly HS (Boise)

S Winston Venable, 6-0, 210, Glendale (Ariz.) C.C. (San Rafael, Calif.)