Three years ago, the Boise State football coaches weren't sure if they should offer a scholarship to Marsing High standout Shea McClellin.

A linebacker at Marsing, McClellin visited the Broncos' summer camp, played defensive end and earned a scholarship offer.

Last year, a player the Broncos expected to offer a scholarship was so unimpressive at camp that they backed off.

Stories like those are why the Broncos' high school camp -- which predominantly gives teams and players from around the region a chance to improve their skills -- also has become one of their best recruiting tools.

This year's camp began Saturday, runs through Wednesday and attracted more than 800 players, camp coordinator Viliami Tuivai said. About 50-75 of those are prospects, hailing from as far away as Alabama and Texas.

"Maybe half the kids we've signed who have been in camp we probably would not have taken had they not been in the camp," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "Maybe on tape we're not quite seeing it, but when we're around them enough we say, 'This guy can do it for us.' "

The camp appearances by prospects -- often for just a day -- amount to sanctioned tryouts. There are rules -- most notably preventing coaches from offering scholarships at the camp -- but it's clear to the players what's at stake.

The Broncos invite all of the players they are interested in to the camp, Tuivai said, and let them know an appearance could make the difference, like it did for McClellin. The coaches can try the prospects at different positions, evaluate intangibles like attitude and develop a rapport.

"We tell all of our guys," Capital High coach Todd Simis said, " 'If Boise State is on your radar and you want to go to Boise State, you need to go to their camp.' "

That plan has worked well for the Eagles, who have been producing Broncos on a regular basis in recent years. Offensive lineman Bryant Thomas sparked the Broncos' interest at last summer's camp and signed with the team in February.

Thomas impressed in part because of his effort -- an essential ingredient for a camper wanting to stand out.

"They go hard," Tuivai said of the prospects. "It's important to them to make a good showing for Boise State. They come here totally with the mindframe that I've got to show my stuff."

The team element of the Broncos' camp also helps with recruiting. This year, the camp drew 15 teams who are trying to improve and, in some cases, escape their hometowns for a bonding experience.

One of those teams is Barlow High of Gresham, Ore., which is an annual participant. Recent Barlow players Dan Paul and Malcolm Johnson have signed with Boise State. Plus, Barlow coach Terry Summerfield has become an ambassador of sorts for the program.

"It's the best camp for a team and kids that I have ever seen," said Summerfield, who is entering his 10th season. "They're very classy guys. The college coach is coaching his position and he's working his fanny off and he is coaching on the run."

Colfax (Wash.) High also makes the trip every year. Coach Mike Morgan, who is entering his 12th season, helps Boise State offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin coach the quarterbacks during the camp.

Morgan, like Summerfield, raves about the Broncos' staff.

"Very rarely does anybody ever recruit any of our kids," Morgan said. "That doesn't matter to Boise's coaches. They coach us up as if we were star recruits for those guys. That's what I love about it."

And the recruiting prospects provide quite a test for small schools like Colfax. Morgan joked that he tries to recruit them to play for his team.

"They put this super-freak team together and they play against all of us little kids," Morgan said. "There are just some flat amazing kids we've played against in the past. It makes our kids better working against a kid who's going to play on Saturdays."

NOTE: Former Boise State offensive lineman and graduate assistant Klayton Adams has been hired as the tight ends/offensive tackles coach at Sacramento State. Adams had been the offensive line coach at Western Washington for two years.