The Boise State football team welcomed 15 new players on Wednesday as high school students across the country took part in early signing day.
Of the 15 players that officially signed with Boise State, 11 were team captains on their respective high school squads this past season, and seven of them won state titles.
It's also worth mentioning that the group of recruits puts the "student" in student-athlete. Their average GPA is 3.35.
The crop of new players includes two quarterbacks: Hank Bachmeier, a 6-foot-3, 190-pounder from Murrieta (Calif.) Valley High, and Kaiden Bennett, a 6-foot, 170-pounder from Folson (Calif.) High School.
Both will be on campus in January, and will likely compete with sophomore Chase Cord and junior Jaylon Henderson for the chance to replace four-year starter Brett Rypien.
Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that Bachmeier and Bennett will be tasked with learning the team's playbook as soon as possible.
"[We're] going to put them in the fire," he said.
The new crop of players include seven from California, a fertile recruiting ground for the Broncos over the years. Nine of the new players play on offense, and six on defense.
Harsin noted that this might be the most well-rounded group he's ever recruited.
So how were the Broncos able to pull it all off? Harsin credits their ability to build relationships. He confirmed that Boise State only offered 61 total players a scholarship during this cycle.
To offer some perspective, according to 24-7 Sports, the University of Tennessee dished out 440 offers this year.
Every school has their own approach, and Harsin offered up an explanation as to why his style has been effective.
"When we offer somebody it means something," he said. "How many guys can you actually manage as a coach?" he said. "You've got to narrow it down, focus, and figure out who are the guys you want to go after. We recruit guys that want to be here."
Speaking of guys who really want to be in Boise, Harsin said this about running back George Holani (6-foot, 193-pounds, St. John Bosco High, Bellflower, Calif.): "I don't know if there is a guy that loves Boise State more."
The Broncos also signed an Idaho native to the running backs squad: Declo High School's Keegan Duncan. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was the 2018 Gatorate Player of the Year from Idaho.
There's still no word on whether star running back Alexander Mattison will forego his senior year to enter the NFL Draft, so there could potentially be a starting spot for Holani and Duncan to compete for this spring and fall.
Another recruit who made his commitment to Boise State official on Wednesday - STUD Isaiah Bagnah - keeps up a tradition of bringing in players from Canada to play for the Broncos.
Harsin pointed out that they've had success recruiting north of the border.
"We purposely set out to find someone from Canada," he said. "Not only is this guy a baller, I think he's going to come in here and be a beast. He's got a great personality."
The Broncos still have three scholarship left for the second signing period.
Here's a look at the 15 players who signed with Boise State on Wednesday:
- Hank Bachmeier, QB, Murrieta, Calif. (Murrieta Valley HS)
- Isaiah Bagnah, STUD, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (Lethbridge Collegiate Institute)
- Kaiden Bennett, QB, Folson, Calif. (Folson HS)
- Michael Callahan, DL, Yorba Linda, Calif. (Yorba Linda HS)
- Ben Dooley, OL, Fallon, Nev. (Churchill County HS)
- Keegan Duncan, RB, Declo, Idaho (Declo HS)
- Jacob Golden, OL, Peoria, Ariz. (Peoria HS)
- Austin Griffin, TE, St. George, Utah (Mt. San Antonio College/Snow Canyon HS)
- Dylan Hall, STUD, Lancaster, Calif. (Antelope Valley HS)
- George Holani, RB, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS)
- Casey Kline, OLB, Brawley, Calif. (Brawley Union HS)
- Markel Reed, CB, Temple, Texas (Temple HS)
- JL Skinner, S, San Diego, Calif. (Point Loma HS)
- Khyheem Waleed, WR, Queen Creek, Ariz. (Casteel HS)
- Shea Whiting, WR, Houston, Texas (Alief Taylor HS)