‘He’s a big-time player’: Boise State football’s do-everything sophomore eyes big year
It was the most perfect example of bittersweet.
Khalil Shakir hauled in a 49-yard touchdown pass with 9 minutes, 22 seconds left Nov. 9 against Fresno State, and it proved to be the winning score in a 24-17 victory for his Boise State Broncos. But he went to the sideline afterward, and he felt off.
“I got up and flexed a little bit, jumped with my teammates, celebrated, jogged to the sideline and something didn’t feel right,” Shakir said.
After hopping on an exercise bike, it still didn’t feel better. Turned out Shakir had suffered a knee sprain, and he didn’t play again the rest of the season. It was his first injury that ever kept him out an extended period.
Shakir had just begun to come into his own as a receiver for the Broncos, the touchdown his first on a reception, and the longest of his debut season. He had a career-best four catches in the game and three the week prior.
It was part of a tantalizing 2018 for the Murrieta, California, native, who was used as a true offensive weapon. He rushed 14 times for 70 yards and a touchdown in addition to his 16 catches for 170 yards. He also was 2-for-2 passing for 10 yards, had four kickoff returns for 100 yards and 12 punt returns for 54 yards.
“It was something I was trying to earn ... tried to get their respect as quickly as possible,” Shakir said. “... Wherever they put me, if they put me on O-line, I’d have played.”
His role was reminiscent of past young talents who Boise State just had to get in the field in any way possible, like Jeremy McNichols in his true freshman season in 2014 or even Doug Martin playing both sides of the ball in 2008.
With Boise State losing its top two receivers and top rusher, coach Bryan Harsin said he still intends to use Shakir in a wide variety of roles.
“He’s a big-time player,” Harsin said. “Everything that he told us he would do, he’s done ... never an issue with effort, ever. Now that he’s out there, he’s making plays (again).
“You know what to expect and you can depend on him.”
It would hardly be a major leap of logic to think Shakir (6-foot, 185 pounds) will be a vital part of the offense the rest of his Boise State career. His teammates have spoken glowingly of his ability to change the game in multiple facets.
“If you let him get into open space or slip away, he’ll make the defense pay,” junior cornerback Avery Williams said. “He looks better than he did last year, which surprised me.”
Said senior quarterback Jaylon Henderson: “He adds a great dynamic to our team that you don’t get every single day. Khalil is going to be a special player for us. We wish we could have had him for all our games.”
Wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau praised Shakir’s maturity last fall as a reason why he could handle such a varied role just a few months out of high school. Primarily a running back his senior year at Vista Murrieta High, he said it was all mental in addition to his sizeable physical skills.
“I try to be positive as much as I can, it helps with confidence, trying to play my role and fit in where I can,” Shakir said.
BRONCOS’ EARLY WAKE-UP CALL
Boise State has completed seven of its spring practices, and four have started at 7 a.m. That’s about an hour and a half earlier than usual. Harsin said some players had class conflicts that forced it, though it has its perks with players getting right to it. But it also might have a practical use come the fall.
“We’ve had a habit of having low energy in those earlier (start) games during the season,” Williams said.
SOFTBALL SET FOR HOME DEBUT
After a 21-4 start to the season, the Boise State softball team makes its home debut at 1:30 p.m. Friday in a doubleheader against San Diego State at Dona Larsen Park. The Broncos, ranked 19th in the first NCAA RPI rankings of the season, also play the Aztecs at 1 p.m. Saturday.
This story was originally published March 21, 2019 at 3:33 PM.
