Boise as a college football recruiting hotbed? How the class of ‘23 is changing minds
College football recruiters rarely wear down a path to Boise and the Treasure Valley. For years, a consensus ruled that it remained too sparsely populated, too far-flung and too much of a gamble to scout.
But a technology revolution and the bounty of talent available in the class of 2023 has changed perceptions, both regionally and nationally. And Treasure Valley players are quickly taking advantage of the new landscape.
Eight known high school seniors have already committed to a Division I scholarship as of Saturday, the final day of the 12th annual Potato Bowl 7-on-7 Tournament at the Optimist Youth Sports Complex.
That represents an unusually high number so early in the season, considering the Boise area typically produces five to 10 Division I signees by the February signing date. And it leaves the class of 2023 in striking distance of 2014’s haul of 17 Division I signees, the most in recent memory.
But don’t expect this year to finish as an outlier. The recruiting landscape has changed so much that Idaho’s talent may no longer stay hidden.
“Idaho, in the last two years, has been getting more exposure and attention,” said Rocky Mountain tight end C.J. Jacobsen, a three-star recruit who remains uncommitted but holds offers from North Carolina State, Louisville and Utah, to name a few. “Obviously, people now know there are some real athletes in Idaho.”
TECHNOLOGY OPENS THE DOOR FOR IDAHO RECRUITS
That knowledge didn’t always find a home in the offices of Division I coaches. But the widespread use of digital highlights, social media, scouting services, private club teams and camps let college programs reach into Idaho at little to no cost.
Rocky Mountain offensive coordinator Scott Criner, himself a former college coach, has watched the entire recruiting process evolve. He said colleges now devote several staff members to combing Hudl, an online highlights platform, to give players a first look. If they like what they see, they’ll reach out to players on social media to establish a relationship. An invite to camp often follows. There, coaches can judge how prospects stack up against other potential Division I talent themselves.
All without having to set foot in Idaho. And sometimes without even speaking to their high school coach.
“They are coming in and going directly to kids and making contact,” Criner said. “Very seldom do we get a call unless it’s after the fact. They just make their own assessment, get them to come to camp, watch them at their combine and make their evaluation.”
That helps even the field for Idaho prospects. College programs have long kept boots on the ground in recruiting fertile states like California, Texas and Florida. But the digital resources available today allow them to scout an Idaho player nearly as easily as one from California.
“It’s definitely easier for Idaho because people can actually see that people can play out here,” Rocky Mountain offensive lineman Jackson Fullmer said. “It’s not just the middle of nowhere like people think.
“With technology now, if you can play, people will find out.”
7-ON-7, PRIVATE CLUBS CREATE MORE EXPOSURE
Fullmer became one of the Treasure Valley’s most recent commits last week, verbally committing to Kansas State. The three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, chose the Wildcats over offers from Boise State and a host of Pac-12 and Mountain West schools.
The path from Meridian to Manhattan, Kansas, may come as a surprise. His first point of contact came through Kansas State defensive line coach Mike Tuiasosopo, who worked with Criner at the University of the Pacific in the early ‘90s. But Fullmer credits his subsequent offers to a private club he played for in Seattle, Ford Sports Performance.
Private 7-on-7 teams have long traveled the country, showcasing quarterbacks and receivers. But clubs have branched out into 11-on-11 competitions, giving linemen the opportunity to strap on their pads and shine at offseason all-star competitions.
“It’s basically just all-star games, but with the best players and it’s a recruiting team,” Fullmer said. “We practiced every weekend for six months for three games.”
Jacobsen has also leaned on the club route, traveling the West with a 7-on-7 team made up of local players. He said he only attended two college camps last summer and none this summer, instead opting to showcase his highlights from select competitions on social media to coaches and recruiting services.
“Twitter has kind of become the main thing,” Jacobsen said. “That’s what all the coaches are on now. It’s honestly beneficial, especially being from Idaho, being able to reach out to coaches. And when a coach calls you, you can just text them and send them your stuff.”
But Timberline coach Ian Smart cautioned social media comes with a double-edged sword. Colleges also comb social media looking for red flags.
“If a coach turns it on and sees that your Twitter has got you drinking or you partying, they’re going to go, ‘Nope. You’re a risk. We don’t want that,’” Smart said.
EARLY SIGNING DAY SPEEDS UP RECRUITING
All the new tools give Idaho players exposure. But they also accelerate the recruiting process, leading to the swell of early commits this year.
Because colleges can identify players more quickly, they can offer scholarships earlier. And many extend more offers than spots they have available, accepting whoever commits first.
That creates a standoff for players: Accept the offer in hand now, or wait to see if a better one comes along later — at the risk of losing the ones available now.
Fullmer said he committed to Kansas State after realizing he kept comparing every other school to it, and none measured up. Meanwhile, Jacobsen is waiting. The 39th-ranked tight end in the country said several schools, including Alabama, have contacted him recently after losing out on their top choices.
For now, the high-stakes waiting game works in his favor.
“It’s kind of hard on us, and it’s a recent thing,” Jacobsen said. “That’s why I’m still pushing it back because I want to make sure the decision is 100% the right decision for me. Everything goes into it. Even though it’s Alabama, is it the best academic-wise for me or situation-wise?”
Smart said many schools want to wrap up their 2023 class this summer and lock it in for the early December signing period. That frees them up to use the fall chasing any loose ends and identifying players for 2024.
The accelerated timeline may ease as players with an extra year of eligibility due to the coronavirus pandemic leave college programs, creating more roster spots. But the early signing period isn’t going anywhere. And colleges aren’t going back to the days of wading through mountains of VHS tapes or DVDs trying to find their next star.
The new road helps Idaho athletes reach the college level. But it also presents a dilemma.
“It’s scary, because I don’t know that I love football as a year-round sport,” Smart said. “You’ve got to let your body heal. And, as a coach, you want to make sure you get those guys healthy going into the fall.
“But I can’t blame a kid that’s looking at it and going, ‘Hey, I gotta compete because there’s a limited amount of scholarships.’ … The 7-on-7 stuff and some of the spring football popping up may be the next things they are going to have to do if they want to get into that next level.”
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SWEEPS POTATO BOWL
The Grizzlies topped Nampa 43-13 in the finals of the Potato Bowl 7-on-7 Tournament on Saturday, capping the first sweep in the 12-year history of the event.
Rocky Mountain also won the lineman challenge and the tug-of-war competition, as well as the junior varsity 7-on-7 tournament.
The performance bodes well for the Grizzlies this fall. The winner of the 7-on-7 tournament has reached the state semifinals eight times in the previous 11 years.
This story was originally published July 16, 2022 at 4:55 PM.
