Boise State picks up the first verbal commitment of Andy Avalos era — and it’s a big one
The Boise State football team has its first recruit of the Andy Avalos era, and it’s a big one.
Quarterback Katin Houser verbally committed to the Broncos on Thursday night on Twitter. He’s the first recruit to join Boise State’s 2022 recruiting class and the first to commit since Avalos was hired as the head coach at his alma mater in January.
Houser is a three-star pro-style quarterback, according to 247Sports, and he’s coming out of St. John Bosco in California, which also produced Boise State running back George Holani.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound native of Henderson, Nevada, transferred to St. John Bosco after his sophomore year at Liberty High School. Joining a program that was led by Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei just a couple of years ago is no small task, but Bosco coach Jason Negro said Houser hasn’t shied away from the challenge.
“The first time he stepped into my office, I could just see the confidence,” Negro told the Statesman on Thursday night. “Here’s this bright-eyed kid with a lot of hopes and dreams, and I was like, ‘Are you sure you want to jump into his hornet’s nest?’ But he has embraced the role and worked his butt off to be in this position.”
Houser missed his sophomore year because of an injury, and his junior season was postponed because of COVID-19. Bosco took the field this spring, though, and the Braves are 3-0 behind two quarterbacks: Houser and sophomore Pierce Clarkson.
“They complement each other really well, and Katin is just the ultimate competitor,” Negro said. “One of his strengths is the cerebral side of the game, and that’s only going to get better with age. His best football is definitely in front of him.”
Negro said Houser reminds him of another former Bosco quarterback: Josh Rosen, who went on to play for UCLA and is now in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.
“He’s a big guy with a big arm,” Negro said. “He has incredible pocket presence and he’s surprisingly athletic, so when things break down, he can take off, and he’s pretty good in the zone run game.”
Houser competed at an Elite 11 regional camp in Los Angeles in 2019, and Negro said he could take part in the showcase for many of the best high school quarterbacks in the country again this summer.
Houser met with Avalos and new offensive coordinator Tim Plough last month during a virtual tour of the campus, and the Broncos offered him a scholarship less than a week later. He has more than 10 offers from programs, including Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, UNLV, San Jose State and Nevada.
In March, Houser said the three schools at the top of his list were Boise State, Oregon State and Washington.
“He’s a diamond, and he’s only going to get better in our program,” Negro said. “Boise State is getting a good one.”
This story was originally published April 1, 2021 at 8:38 PM.
