Boise State introduces 22 new Broncos at LOI Show

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State University head football coach Chris Petersen announced the signing of 22 players, which includes one junior college transfer, one gray-shirt and one high school player who graduated early and already enrolled at Boise State this past month, to the 2009 recruiting class.

The three new Broncos who joined the team in January of 2009 are Glendale Community (Ariz.) College transfer Winston Venable; Spencer Gerke, who originally signed with the Broncos last year before gray-shirting this past fall semester; and freshman Aaron Burks who graduated early from Mansfield Timberview High School in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Geographically, this was another diverse signing class for Petersen and his coaching staff. Eight different states and one foreign country represent the newest group of Bronco football players.

California again produced the most talent with seven players coming from the Golden State. Four played high school football in Idaho, including Geraldo Hiwat and Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe who are originally from the Netherlands. Three players are from Arizona with two each from Oregon, Texas and Washington. Georgia and Nevada round out the list of states with one each.

Just as varied was the breakdown by position of the 2009 class. Defensive linemen, defensive backs and offensive linemen led the way with four each. Three new Broncos are wide receivers with the linebacker, tight end and quarterback positions each gaining two new players. Malcolm Johnson from Greshman, Oregon is the lone running back to sign with the Broncos.

Boise State is coming off its sixth Western Athletic Conference in the last seven years, a 12-1 overall record and a final 2008 ranking of No. 11 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches poll.

The Broncos are scheduled to open the 2009 season on Sept. 5 (Saturday) at Bronco Stadium against the University of Oregon.

Following the official press release more than 400 fans packed the 4th floor of the Stueckle Sky Center for the annual Letter of Intent Show. Hosted by Boise State for the first time and broadcast by KIDO for the first time the show was a huge success.

Like LOI shows in the past there was the video highlights of all the recruits as well as the commentary from the coach(s) about the recruit and the recruiting process but unlike shows in the past this years event was much more impressive in the new facility. The Double R Ranch Club inside the Stueckle Sky Center was beautifully designed for just this type of event. Catered with great food, a no host bar, silent auctions for unique Bronco memorabilia, and an awesome view it was the perfect setting for Boise State to showcase this years crop of new recruits.

Also new to this years LOI show was the access to the coaches that was not possible in previous years. Fans in attendance were encouraged to ask questions of the coaches as they moved around the room. Coaches also answered questions from the audience in between segments of the radio broadcast which added to the experience of attending the event in person. The most notable question from an audience member came from Boise State men's head basketball coach Greg Graham who asked if there was a possibility that any of the new recruits could play more than one sport and were around 6'8" or better.

One thing that seemed pretty apparent while attending today's event is that this program is not just a winner on the field but off the field as well. It's a great time to be a Bronco and as of today there are 22 new Broncos. Following is a small capsule of Boise State's newest Broncos.

Nicholas Alexander, DE/OT, 6-4, 230, Fr., Los Angeles, California (Crenshaw HS)

Competed in football and track and field for Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, earning varsity football letters in football as a junior and senior...Named first team all-city as a senior...Awarded second team all-city honors as a junior...As a senior, started every game at offensive tackle and defensive end...Recorded 55 tackles, nine sacks and 10 tackles for loss as a senior...As a junior, started all league games on offense, recording 15 pancakes...Named to high school honor roll as a junior and senior...High school coach was Robert Garrett.

Jonathan Brown, S, 5-11, 200, Fr., Alameda, California (Encinal High School)

Earned three varsity letters in football and one in baseball at Encinal High School in Alameda, Calif...Awarded second team all-state honors as a senior...Named first team all-conference for offense and defense...Bay Shore Athletic League Offensive Player of the Year as a senior...San Francisco Chronicle Regional Player of the Year...Bay Area News Paper Group named Brown the East Bay Football Player of the Year...On defense, recorded 92 tackles, eight sacks and two blocked punts last season...On offense, threw for 1,364 yards and 28 touchdowns, while also rushing for 862 yards and nine scores as a senior...EHS Scholar Athlete and NCS Scholar Athlete with a 3.6 GPA...High school coach was Joe Tenorio.

Jake Broyles, OL, 6-5, 250, Fr., Henderson, Nevada (Foothill High School)

Lettered four times, three in football, at Foothill High School in Henderson, Nev...Also lettered once in wrestling...Named First-Team All-Sunrise Conference as a senior...First Team All-State Max Preps...Earned second team all-conference as a junior...Team MVP in 2008...Awarded the Borque Award of Merit in 2007...As a senior, recorded 55 pancake blocks, three quarterback sacks and blocked two punts...In his junior season he recorded 40 pancake blocks and one sack...Maintained a 4.45 GPA in high school...High school coach was Marty Redmond.

Aaron Burks, WR, 6-3, 180, Fr., Grand Prairie, Texas (Mansfield Timberview High School)

Lettered twice in football at Mansfield Timberview High School in Grand Prairie, Texas...Named first team all-conference as a senior and honorable mention all-conference in his junior season...Caught 32 passes as a senior, tallying 535 receiving yards and four touchdowns...As a junior, caught seven passes for 79 yards and one score...High school coach was Terry Cron.

John-Michael Davis, 6-0, 225, Fr., Santa Margarita, California (Tesoro High School)

Earned four varsity football letters...Named first team all-state as a sophomore and second team all-state as a junior...Earned second team all-conference honors as a senior...Ranked No. 13 in the nation for weak side linebackers, according to Scout.com...Recorded 90 tackles, nine sacks and two interceptions during his senior season...As a junior, recorded 80 tackles and two interceptions to go along with 14 pass receptions for 220 yards...In his sophomore season he made 70 tackles and four interceptions, while also catching 15 passes for 250 yards and rushing the ball 16 times for 200 yards and one touchdown...Recorded 15 tackles and caught 12 passes for 156 yards with a touchdown as a freshman...Named to the honor roll every semester of high school...High school coach was Brian Barnes.

Quaylon Ewing, CB, 6-1, 180, Fr., Houston, Texas (Kempner High School)

Five time letter winner, two in football and three in track, at Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas...Named first team all-conference in football as a senior...Also voted first-team all-district...In his final high school season he made 85 tackles, while grabbing five interceptions, scoring one touchdown, blocking one punt and recovering two fumbles...High school coach was James Brown.

Spencer Gerke, OG, 6-3, 285, Fr., Boise, Idaho (Bishop Kelly High School)

A three-year letterman at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho...Ranked as the 63rd best player on the Northwest 100...Named first-team all-state as both an offensive and defensive lineman as a senior, while earning first-team All-Southern Idaho Conference honors as a offensive lineman and second-team All-Southern Idaho Conference as a defensive lineman...Finished senior season with 69 tackles, seven pass breakups, two sacks and one interception...As a junior had 44 tackles, three sacks and two pass breakups, while earning second-team All-Southern Idaho Conference honors...Had four tackles as a sophomore...Served as a team captain as a senior...High school coach was Jack Parker.

Geraldo Hiwat, WR, 6-3, 195, Fr., Amsterdam, Netherlands [Capital High School (Boise, ID)]

Played football one season at Capital High School in Boise, Idaho...Named First Team All-Southern Idaho Conference and second team All-State as a senior...Played in the East-West Shrine Game...Caught 41 passes for 502 yards and five touchdowns...Carried the football three times for 51 yards and a score...Eight kickoff returns for 303 yards, averaging 37.8 yards per return...Returned one kickoff for a touchdown...Six punt returns for 107 yards and one touchdown...High school coach was Todd Simis.

Malcolm Johnson, RB, 5-11, 190, Fr., Gresham, Oregon (Barlow High School)

Earned eight varsity letters at Barlow High School in Gresham, Ore...Lettered three times in football, four times in track and once in basketball...Named First Team All-Mt. Hood Conference at running back and defensive back as a senior...Also earned first team all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior...Mt. Hood Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior...Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd in December 2008...Earned ESPN Player of the Week award...National Football Foundation Scholar Nominee...2008 Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee...Rushed for 6,975 total yards in his high school career...As a senior, averaged 204 yards per game, rushing for 2635 yards on 287 carries...Scored 25 touchdowns as a senior...High school coach was Terry Summerfield.

Justin Jungblut, DL, 6-5, 250, Fr., Scottsdale, Arizona (Saguaro High School)

Lettered four times in football at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. Helping his team to three straight state football championships...Named first team all-state as a senior...Also earned first team all-conference honors as a senior...First team all-state defensive line by four publications...Recorded 72 tackles, including 23 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, one safety and one fumble recovery as a senior...As a junior, recorded 40 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble...High School coach was John Sanders.

Charles Leno Jr., OL, 6-5, 255, Fr., Oakland, California (San Leandro High School)

Played football and basketball at San Leandro High School in Oakland, Calif., where he earned three varsity letters in each sport...Named first team all-conference as an offensive tackle and second team all-conference as a defensive end as a senior...earned honorable mention all-conference honors on offense as a junior...also named First Team All-Metro, First Team All East Bay and was selected to the "Cream of the Crop" Bay Area top 22 players...High school coach was Brad Bowers.

Gabe Linehan, TE, 6-3, 219, Fr., Banks, Oregon (Banks High School)

Lettered three times in football, twice in basketball, at Banks High School in Banks, Ore...Earned first team all-conference honors as a junior and senior...First team all-state as a linebacker his senior year...All-state honorable mention as a quarterback as a junior...Threw for 1,400 yards as a junior in seven games...As a senior, threw for 2,500 yards, 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions...Also recorded nine rushing touchdowns...On defense, made 130 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, three sacks and one interception return for a touchdown...Named to honor roll throughout entire high school career...High school coach was Ben Buchanon.

Ebenezer Makinde, CB, 5-11, 170, Fr., Phoenix, Arizona (Paradise Valley High School)

Earned seven varsity letters, three in football and four in track, at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Ariz...Named First Team All-Desert Sky Conference as a senior...First team all-region and first team all-state as a senior...Invited to play in the Arizona North vs. South All-Star game...Recorded 15 tackles, 12 solo, two interceptions and nine pass breakups as a senior...Had seven carries for 44 yards, 23 receptions for 297 yards and eight kickoff returns for 205 yards last season...Also a two-time 400-meter regional champion in track...High school coach was Donnie Yantis.

Kharyee Marshall, DE, 6-2, 205, Fr., Phoenix, Arizona (Washington High School)

Earned seven varsity letters at Washington High School in Phoenix, Ariz., three times in football, twice in basketball and track...Named first team all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior...Second team all-state as a senior...Named all-state honorable mention as a junior...Recorded 64 tackles, four sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery as a senior...Finished his junior season with 106 tackles, 16 sacks, one interception, one punt block and one blocked field goal...Recorded 106 tackles, 12.5 sacks, one interception and one blocked punt as a sophomore...High school coach was Jon Becktold.

Allen Mooney, LB, 5-10, 217, Fr., Maple Valley, Washington ([O'Dea High School)

Three time varsity letter winner in football at O'Dea High School in Seattle, Wash...Named first team all-conference as a junior and second team all-conference as a sophomore...Recorded 35 tackles and one sack in just three games played as a senior...In his junior season, recorded 106 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles...Rated the 24th middle linebacker in the nation, according to Scout.com...As a sophomore, recorded 55 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles in just five games...Named to high school honor roll...High school coach was Monte Kohler.

Kirby Moore, WR, 6-2, 210, Fr., Prosser, Washington (Prosser High School)

Earned four varsity football letters, along with three in basketball, at Prosser High School in Prosser, Wash...Named first team all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior...Named first team all-state as a junior and senior...Earned all-state honorable mention as a sophomore...2A player of the year and all-area player of the year...grabbed 131 receptions for 2,126 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior...In his junior year, caught 75 passes for 1,350 yards and 29 touchdowns...Caught 61 passes for 788 yards and 18 scores in his sophomore season...Made 37 receptions for 645 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman...Member of National Honor Society...High school coach was his father Tom Moore...Brother of Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore.

Trevor Peterson, TE, 6-3, 225, Fr., Camino, California (El Dorado High School)

Played three seasons of varsity football at El Dorado High School in Camino, Calif...Named first team all-conference three consecutive years...Earned first team all-metro honors as a utility player in 2008...Named honorable mention all-section utility as a senior...2008 GSP Norcal First Team utility...Named third team all-state as an all purpose player...As a junior, named second team all-metro and first team all-section as a tight end...High school coach was Rick Redding.

Joe Southwick, QB, 6-2, 185, Fr., Danville, California (San Ramon Valley High School)

Lettered twice in football, once in baseball and basketball, while at San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, Calif...Named first team all-state as a senior...First team all-conference as a senior and second team all-conference as a junior...Completed 239 passes for 3,781 yards, while throwing 36 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions as a senior...Also rushed for 350 yards and eight scores on 90 carries last season...As a junior, threw 35 touchdowns and just eight interceptions with a 63-percent completion rate and 3,185 passing yards...High school coach was Dave Kravitz.

Michael Tamburo, QB, 6-0, 195, Fr., Suwanee, Georgia (North Gwinnett High School)

Three-year starter at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga...Picked as the state of Georgia's No. 1 junior prospect in 2007 by Georgia Football Magazine...In January 2007, scout.com named Tamburo one of the top 15 quarterbacks in the nation for the class of 2009...Named ESPN Top 150 Players in the Nation in March 2008...Accounted for 8,476 total yards and 90 touchdowns in his high school career...Threw for 6,598 yards and 57 touchdowns with a 61-percent completion rating as a starter...Rushed for 1,878 yards and 33 rushing touchdowns in high school...High school coach was Bob Sphire.

Bryant Thomas, OL, 6-2, 260, Fr., Boise, Idaho (Capital High School)

Lettered three times in football and once in track at Capital High School in Boise, Idaho...Named first team all-state as a senior...Earned First Team All-Southern Idaho Conference honors as a senior...Played in the East-West Shrine game...High school coach was Todd Simis.

Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, DL, 6-3, 300, Fr., Amsterdam, Netherlands [Boise High School (Boise, ID)]

Played one year of high school football at Boise High in Boise, Idaho...Named first team all-conference and first team all-state as a senior...Recorded 35 tackles as a senior, including nine tackles for loss...Also recorded six quarterback hurries and two sacks...Forced four fumbles and recovered two fumbles as a senior...High school coach was Bob Clark.

Winston Venable, S, 6-0, 210, Jr., San Rafael, California [St. Thomas More Prep (Oakdale, CT)/Glendale CC]

Transferred to Boise State from Glendale Community College in Glendale, Ariz...Named first team All-America, first team All-Arizona as a defensive back at Glendale CC...Also named first team All-Western State Football League as a punter last season...Finished his sophomore year with 94 tackles, after recording 97 tackles as a freshman...Played his junior and senior years of high school at St. Thomas More Prep in Oakdale, Conn., where he earned first team All-Colonial Prep Football League honors...Played quarterback and strong safety in high school...Threw for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior...Junior college coach was Mickey Bell...High School coach was Tim Riordan.