This former JUCO defensive lineman wants to ‘make a name’ for himself at Boise State
Junior college defensive lineman Cortez Hogans Jr. was impressed with Boise State’s facilities during his official visit in November, but he was blown away by the atmosphere in Albertsons Stadium.
Hogans — and his teammate at Snow College, 6-foot-8, 340-pound offensive lineman Lisala Tai, who is undecided on his next stop — picked a good weekend to visit Boise. They had some of the best seats in the house on Nov. 20 to watch the Broncos trounce New Mexico, 37-0, in their final home game of the season.
“Even though it was a cold night, there was still a lot of fans there and it was crazy,” Hogans told the Statesman. “I want to be part of that.”
Hogans verbally committed to Boise State a couple of days after the game. He’s one of 21 known recruits in Boise State’s 2022 recruiting class, and Hogans said he’ll sign his National Letter of Intent during early signing day on Wednesday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
“Boise State has everything I need, and I feel like I can be a key part of that defense,” Hogans said. “Boise is a lot different than where I am now, but the scheme is pretty much the same as what we run at Snow (College). I feel like I’ll have everything I need to take the next step in my career.”
The 6-3, 260-pound defensive end was the first transfer to join Boise State’s class, but the floodgates opened after he committed. On Sunday, the Broncos added junior college defensive end Deven Wright, and former Washington State offensive lineman Cade Beresford and his brother, Jack, a defensive lineman. Former Weber State pass rusher George Tarlas joined the fold on Tuesday.
“I know everything has to be earned because it’s not going to be given,” Hogans said. “I’m ready to work and compete and be somebody the coaches can count on.”
Hogans spent the past year at Snow in Ephraim, Utah — a small city in the Sanpete Valley, which borders the Manti-La Sal National Forest and has a population of about 7,000 people.
He felt like the solitude Snow offered would help him focus on football and school. It was a big change from the first three years of his college career, which were spent at Northern Illinois in DeKalb, not far from Chicago.
The move paid off. Hogans finished the season with five sacks and earned scholarship offers from Boise State, Washington State, Buffalo, Arkansas State, San Diego State, Utah State, Temple and UAB, according to 247Sports. Snow finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country among JUCO programs, with a 7-1 record.
“The JUCO experience changed my whole mental approach to everything,” Hogans said. “A lot of people come to JUCO and all they do is talk about getting back to big-time college ball. But you really have to be on top of your stuff to get out.”
Hogans was a self-described scrawny kid playing linebacker in high school. He decided to stay close to home at Northern Illinois, just an hour away from his hometown of Palatine, Illinois, but he put his name into the transfer portal last December.
“I didn’t just want to be another guy on a team,” Hogans said. “I wanted to make a name for myself.”
Hogans was recruited as a middle linebacker by Northern Illinois but switched to defensive end in the spring of 2019. The most difficult part of the transition was putting on weight, he said.
“The biggest difference is as a linebacker, you want to see everything and be everywhere all over the field,” Hogans said. “As a defensive lineman, you have to key on one certain thing.”
There will be no shortage of competition in the trenches in the coming years. Hogans, Wright, Tarlas and Jack Beresford will join a defensive line unit that’s already expected to return plenty of experience.
Former junior college defensive end Shane Irwin — who has posted nine sacks in two seasons with the Broncos — said Tuesday that he wants to return for his extra senior season afforded by the COVID pandemic. Those discussions won’t be held until after the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 31, according to a spokesperson for the team.
Defensive tackle Scott Matlock said Monday that he’ll be back next season, and fellow interior defensive linemen Jackson Cravens, Divine Obichere, Hebert Gums and Michael Callahan will likely return after seeing playing time the past two seasons.
Notes
▪ Boise State already has its first signed National Letter of Intent from a member of the 2022 class. Punter James Ferguson — a native of Australia — put pen to paper at around 1 p.m. Mountain time on Tuesday, which is 7 a.m. on Wednesday in Australia.
▪ The Broncos also appear to have landed a commitment from wide receiver Prince Strachan. The 6-4, 185-pound receiver from John Carroll High in Florida hasn’t officially announced his commitment, but he updated his Twitter bio to reflect that he is a Boise State commit. Strachan’s brother, Michael, plays in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts.
▪ Hogan’s junior college teammate, offensive lineman Tai, hasn’t announced where he’ll commit, but Hogans said Boise State is among the 340-pounder’s top two or three schools.
BOISE STATE 2022 RECRUITING CLASS
CB Dionte Thornton, 6-3, 185, Lawndale (California) High
OT Kage Casey, 6-6, 250, Clackamas (Oregon) High
TE Austin Terry, 6-5, 230, Tumwater High (Olympia, Washington)
LB Kaeo Akana, 6-3, 205, Theodore Roosevelt High (Honolulu, Hawaii)
WR Keenan McCaddy, 6-4, 180, Moanalua High (Honolulu, Hawaii)
OT Roger Carreon, 6-5, 295, Jal (New Mexico) High
DL JJ Talo, 6-3, 250, Kearns High (Salt Lake City, Utah)
LB Jayden Virgin, 6-3, 220, Mt. Carmel High (San Diego, California)
OT Hall Schmidt, 6-7, 300, Peninsula (Washington) High
WR Zamondre Merriweather, 6-2, 200, Valencia (California) High
QB Maddux Madsen, 6-0, 185, American Fork (Utah) High
LB Jake Ripp, 6-3, 215, Los Gatos (California) High
LB Gavin Hambrick, 6-2, 220, Apple Valley (California) High
RB Ashton Jeanty, 5-9, 195, Lone Star (Texas) High
P James Ferguson, 6-1, 175, Pro Kick Australia
OT Tyson Molio’o, 6-4, 295, St. John Bosco (Bellfower, California)
DE Cortez Hogans Jr., 6-3, 265, Snow College (Palatine, Illinois)
LB Dishawn Misa, 6-3, 230, Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Washington)
Edge Deven Wright, 6-5, 230, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Clarksdale, Mississippi)
OL Cade Beresford, 6-7, 200, Washington State (Woodinville, Washington)
Edge George Tarlas, 6-4, 260, Weber State (Chalkida, Greece)
