Boise State’s Cleveland, Hightower sign rookie deals; Presnell honored; Lupfer goes pro
All three former Boise State football players picked in this year’s NFL Draft have signed their rookie contracts.
On Monday, wide receiver John Hightower was the latest to announce his deal was done.
“Officially an Eagle,” he posted on Twitter. “Proud to prove a lot of doubters wrong. But most importantly proud to prove all those who believed in me right! Time to do the same for the Eagles organization and fans!”
Hightower’s rookie deal covers four years — potentially keeping him in Philadelphia through the 2023 season — and is worth $3,595,052, according to spotrac.com. It also includes a $300,052 signing bonus.
The Eagles drafted Hightower in the fifth round in April, pairing him with Marquise Goodwin, whom they acquired via a trade with San Francisco, and fellow rookie Jalen Reagor in an effort to add some youth and speed to the receiving corps.
Hightower showed off his speed this spring at the NFL Scouting Combine, posting a 40-yard dash time of 4.43 seconds. Reagor ran it in 4.47.
Last fall at Boise State, Hightower hauled in a career-high 51 passes and led the Broncos with 943 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He also averaged a team-high 18.49 yards per catch.
Left tackle Ezra Cleveland signed his rookie deal with the Minnesota Vikings last Wednesday. It covers four years and is worth $5.537 million with $3.058 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.587 million, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
The Vikings picked Cleveland in the second round, hoping to find their eventual replacement for left tackle Riley Reiff.
Cleveland started 40 games over the past three seasons at Boise State, and he was a first-team All-Mountain West pick the past two.
Pass rusher Curtis Weaver — selected in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins — signed his deal in May. It also covers four years and is worth $3,602,996. He’s also slotted to receive a $307,996 signing bonus.
Weaver finished his career as the all-time sack leader in the Mountain West with 34, which ranks No. 2 in Boise State history behind Erik Helgeson (1987-90) with 54.5.
Former Boise State linemen David Moa and John Molchon — both undrafted free agents — have also finalized their rookie deals.
Moa, a defensive tackle picked up by the Vikings, has a three-year deal in place worth $2,295,000 with a $10,000 signing bonus, according to Spotrac.com.
Molchon, who could play guard or center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, signed a three-year deal worth $2,285,000 with a $15,000 signing bonus, according to Spotrac.
Presnell honored among influential figures
Boise State women’s basketball coach Gordy Presnell was named one of the 100 most influential people in women’s college basketball by Silver Waves Media on Monday.
Presnell owns a 691-308 career record, and in 16 seasons at Boise State, he has recorded just three losing seasons. His 295 wins at Boise State are the most in program history, and he has led the Broncos to four straight NCAA Tournament berths and five in the past six years.
An 80-76 overtime win over Fresno State last season in the Mountain West final marked Boise State’s fourth straight conference title, but COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament before the Broncos got a chance to make a run.
In 2018-19, the Broncos fell 80-75 in overtime to Oregon State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Lupfer signs with German league
Boise State 3-point specialist Riley Lupfer is going pro.
On Saturday, she signed with Flippo Baskets BG 74 of the Damen-Basketball-Bundesliga (DBBL) — the top professional women’s basketball league in Germany.
Lupfer finished her career as Boise State’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers with 350. The Spokane, Washington, native also ranks first in program history in triples attempted (894), fourth in scoring (1,538 points) and seventh in field goals made (529).
Lupfer is the third former Bronco from the 2020 senior class to sign with a professional league in Europe this summer. She’s joined in the DBBL by former teammate Braydey Hodgins, who signed with the Saarlouis Royals in June.
Earlier this month, point guard Jayde Christopher signed with the Visby Ladies of the Basketligan dam — Sweden’s top professional women’s league.
Last season, Christopher set the Boise State and Mountain West single-season assist record with 270, and she owns the Broncos’ top career assists average at 6.92 per game.
Bachmeier, Holani make Maxwell watch list
The Broncos continue to rack up preseason award watch list nominations.
On Friday, quarterback Hank Bachmeier and running back George Holani were named to the Maxwell Award watch list, which goes annually to the top college football player in the country.
Bachmeier, who went 7-1 as the starter last season as a freshman, is also on the watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award, which goes to the nation’s top quarterback.
Holani also landed on the Doak Walker Award watch list, which goes to the top running back in the country. Last season as a freshman, he posted 1,014 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns (seven rushing).
Cornerback/punt returner Avery Williams was added to the Paul Hornung Award watch list last Thursday. It’s the third year in a row that he finds himself in contention to be named the most versatile player in college football.
Williams was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year last fall after returning two punts for touchdowns and leading the conference with 13.2 yards per return. He also started all 14 games at cornerback and earned honorable mention all-conference recognition.
On Wednesday, he was named to the preseason All-Mountain West team as a cornerback and punt returner.
Offensive lineman Donte Harrington made the cut last Thursday for the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which honors players who serve others and have a positive impact on society.
Harrington held a voter registration drive earlier this month that resulted in 46 of his teammates registering in Idaho. He suffered an ACL tear six games into the 2018 season, which kept him sidelined last year.
Here’s a look at all the Boise State players who have landed on preseason watch lists.
QB Hank Bachmeier: Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award
TE John Bates: Mackey Award
OL Donte Harrington: Wuerffel Trophy
RB George Holani: Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award
N Kekaula Kaniho: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy
WR Khalil Shakir: Biletnikoff Award
CB Jalen Walker: Chuck Bednarik Award, Jim Thorpe Award
CB/PR Avery Williams: Paul Hornung Award
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 1:17 PM.
