Signing day: Boise State adds a running back from the Pac-12 to its 2021 recruiting class
The Boise State football team expects to put the finishing touches on its 2021 recruiting class Wednesday, national signing day.
The Broncos signed 15 recruits on early signing day in December, including quarterback Taylen Green and wide receivers Eric McAlister, Jalen Richmond and Kaden Dudley. The class ranks No. 2 in the Mountain West behind San Diego State, according to 247Sports.
There wasn’t likely to be much action Wednesday for the Broncos, who are expecting only about five national letters of intent to roll in. One will come from Idaho native Ben Ford — a quarterback at Eagle High School, who verbally committed Tuesday.
The Broncos are also hoping to get one from offensive lineman Jason White, who was one of two verbally committed recruits that didn’t sign on early signing day. The other was running back Eli Sanders, who reopened his recruitment in December and eventually committed to Iowa State.
Here’s a look at the latest additions to Boise State’s 2021 class.
RB Cyrus Habibi-Likio, 6-1, 215, Oregon (Palo Alto, California)
Former Oregon running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio fills a major need for depth in the Broncos’ backfield. After four years with the Ducks, the native of Palo Alto, California, announced Jan. 23 that he was transferring. He spent last season at No. 3 on the depth chart and finished the year with 19 carries for 36 yards and four touchdowns.
Habibi-Likio has mostly been used in short-yardage and goal-line situations, and he left Oregon with 21 career rushing touchdowns. He joins the Broncos with two years of eligibility remaining after announcing Tuesday that his top three schools were Boise State, Wisconsin and California.
He took a redshirt year in 2017 after joining the Ducks as a four-star recruit and chose Oregon over a list of scholarship offers that included Boise State, BYU, California, Iowa State, UCF, UNLV, USC, Utah and Washington State.
Boise State ranked last in the Mountain West last season with 107.1 rushing yards a game. Starting running back George Holani was lost to injury in the second game of the season, and junior college transfer Taequan Tyler suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in the preseason.
Add last year’s leading rusher, Andrew Van Buren, to the mix, and the addition of Habibi-Likio gives Boise State at least four scholarship running backs heading into the 2021 season.
WR Ben Ford, 5-11, 190, Eagle High
A dual-threat quarterback at Eagle High, Ford is joining the Broncos as a slot receiver. He didn’t get an offer from Boise State until new coach Andy Avalos got to town, and he’s one of only two FBS commits in Idaho. He’s the No. 12 overall recruit in the state, according to 247Sports, and he also has scholarship offers from Army, Idaho and Idaho State.
Ford was named 5A All-Idaho Player of the Year in 2020 after racking up 2,033 total yards and 26 touchdowns in eight games. He threw for 977 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions and ran for 1,056 yards and 12 scores.
The former Washington baseball commit possesses elite speed (4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash), but Boise State fans will have to wait at least a year to see him on the field. Ford told the Statesman on Tuesday that he will grayshirt this year to help alleviate some of the roster concerns caused by the NCAA’s offer of an extra year of eligibility, which was extended because of how COVID-19 affected the 2020 season.
2021 RECRUITING CLASS
LB Jai Jones, 5-11, 230, South Oak Cliff High (Dallas, Texas)
WR Jalen Richmond, 6-0, 175, Chandler (Arizona) High
QB Taylen Green, 6-5, 215, Lewisville (Texas) High
WR Kaden Dudley, 5-11, 190, Palmer Ridge High (Monument, Colorado)
TE Matthew Lauter, 6-4, 222, Torrey Pines High (Encinitas, California)
LB Rejhan Tatum, 6-2, 224, Del City High (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
OT Cord Kringlen, 6-5, 275, Holy Family High (Broomfield, Colorado)
LB Marco Notarainni, 6-3, 195, Torrey Pines High (Encinitas, California)
LB James Wilborn Jr., 6-3, 235, Avon Old Farms (Avon, Connecticut)
WR Eric McAllister, 6-3, 180, Azle (Texas) High
OL Joseph Amos, 6-3, 325, Lancaster (Texas) High
OL Mason Randolph, 6-4, 280, Yorba Linda (California) High
S Seyi Oladipo, 5-11, 175, Eaglecrest High (Centennial, Colorado)
S Zion Washington, 6-2, 200, Frisco (Texas) High
DL Ahmed Hassanein, 6-2, 270, Loara High (Anaheim, California)
WR Ben Ford, 5-11, 190, Eagle High
RB Cyrus Habibi-Likio, 6-1, 215, Oregon (Palo Alto, California)
This story was originally published February 3, 2021 at 7:14 AM.
