Lifelong Boise State fan leads group of in-state recruits joining Broncos as walk-ons

When he was in kindergarten, Shelley High School running back Ryker Clinger started every morning by digging though his parents’ DVD collection and popping in a copy of Boise State’s win over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

The family regularly made the 3.5-hour trip from Shelley to Boise to watch the Broncos play, and when Clinger started playing tackle football, he showed up on the first day of practice wearing a homemade Boise State jersey.

Clinger said he never wavered from his dream of playing for Boise State, and he’ll soon have the chance to live it. He’s one of several players from in-state high schools walking on at Boise State this year.

Clinger said Monday that he plans to join the team in June.

“I’ve wanted to be a Boise State football player since before I was in kindergarten,” Clinger told the Idaho Statesman. “It was always the dream.”

He’ll be joined by defensive back Cole Miller (Bishop Kelly), kicker Joshua Horn (Bishop Kelly), offensive lineman Bridjer Bivens (Meridian), quarterback Max Cutforth (Skyview) and defensive back Troy Wilkey (Rocky Mountain).

Boen Phelps, a versatile athlete from Freeman High in Washington state, also announced that he plans to be a walk-on at Boise State this year.

It’s the second year in a row that the Broncos have injected the roster with a large contingent of walk-ons from local high schools. They brought in six last year, including running backs Ethan Mikita (Eagle) and Taylor Marcum (Timberline).

Boise State football coach Andy Avalos said Wednesday that it’s always exciting when players who “grew up bleeding blue” join the program.

“I’ve played with guys that grew up in this state and that came here and helped change Boise State, not just the football team but Boise State all together,” he said.

Clinger said he got to know Bishop Kelly’s Miller a little bit when they visited Boise State earlier this month and said it’s refreshing to see so much homegrown talent staying in the state. He also said it helps that there’s a strong tradition of walk-ons becoming stars at Boise State.

Leighton Vander Esch wasn’t on scholarship when he joined the program out of Salmon River High in Riggins, where he played eight-man football. Now he’s a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys who was a star at Boise State.

Two-time Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year Avery Williams also joined the Broncos as a walk-on. He just wrapped up his second season with the Atlanta Falcons with an NFL-leading 16.2 yards per punt return.

Clinger said knowing these players went through the same process he’s preparing for gives him a lot of hope.

He’s also realistic and knows that balancing school and practice, and fighting to earn a spot on the depth chart as a walk-on, are going to be anything but easy. But he said it will all be worth it when he gets to put on the blue and orange.

“I just have to keep reminding myself during the tough times that I’m playing at Boise State and that means I have it pretty good,” Clinger said.

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A new position

Clinger opened his senior year at Shelley with a game on the blue turf in Boise State’s Albertsons Stadium.

It wasn’t his first time on The Blue. He’d been in the stadium for a couple of summer camps, but Shelley’s season opener against Star Valley from Wyoming was his first real game on the Broncos’ iconic playing surface.

It didn’t go Shelley’s way. The Russets lost 21-7, but Clinger said playing on that field was a moment he’ll never forget.

“It had a whole other feel from the previous times I’d been on it,” Clinger said. “Other than the loss, it was a lot of fun.”

The Blue will be Clinger’s second home when voluntary workouts begin in June and roll into fall camp in August, but he won’t just be adjusting to a change of scenery. He’ll also be transitioning to a new position.

Clinger played safety in middle school and during his freshman year at Shelley, but he spent the past three years as a running back. He posted 1,200 rushing yards as a junior, earning second-team all-state honors, and finished with around 1,000 last season, earning his second straight first-team all-conference nod.

He’s coming into college as a safety, so he’ll be the one tracking down ball carriers.

“It’s going to be an interesting transition, but I’m ready to learn and I’m definitely excited to give out the punishment rather than take it,” Clinger said.

Clinger said he can’t think of a better mentor than Boise State safeties coach Kane Ioane, who ended his playing career at Montana State as the all-time leading tackler in the Big Sky Conference.

“It helps to learn from someone who’s done it because you can trust that they’ve been there and done that,” Clinger said.

Here’s a look at the rest of the players who have confirmed they plan to walk on at Boise State this year.

Cole Miller, 5-11, 169, defensive back, Bishop Kelly

Miller earned first-team 4A All-Idaho honors after posting 50.5 tackles and two interceptions last season.

Joshua Horn, 6-0, 175, kicker, Bishop Kelly

Horn was named second-team 4A All-Idaho last season.

Bridjer Bivens, 6-3, 265, center, Meridian

Bivens earned first-team 5A All-Idaho honors after paving the way in Meridian’s Wing-T offense. He hasn’t allowed a sack in 24 straight games.

Troy Wilkey, 5-8, 160, defensive back, Rocky Mountain

Wilkey is an undersized defender, but he makes up for it with his speed and instincts when he has the ball in his hands. He scored three defensive or special teams touchdowns last season.

Boen Phelps, 6-2, 190, safety, Freeman, Rockford, Washington

Phelps played quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker and safety during his high school career. He’s joining the Broncos as a safety after passing for 11 touchdowns, rushing for six and racking up 91 tackles last season, according to MaxPreps. He has scholarship offers from Central Washington, Montana Western, Black Hills State and Whitworth, according to 247Sports.

QB Max Cutforth, 6-2, 195, QB, Skyview

Cutforth was named second-team 4A SIC last season after throwing for 1,640 yards and 16 touchdowns and adding five rushing touchdowns, according MaxPreps. As a junior, he posted 2,148 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air and rushed for 7 TDs.

Boise State’s 2023 recruiting class

QB CJ Tiller, 6-3, 200, Rancho Cucamonga (California) High

LB Wyatt Milkovic, 6-1, 233, Basha High, Chandler, Arizona

OL Jason Steele, 6-4, 280, Murrieta Valley (California) High

RB Jambres Dubar, 6-0, 200, Anna (Texas) High

WR Jackson Grier, 6-0, 175, St. Thomas Aquinas High, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

CB Franklyn Johnson Jr., 5-11, 175, Little Elm (Texas) High

OT Kyle Cox, 6-6, 270, Eatonville (Washington) High

OT Carson Rasmussen, 6-5, 300, Owyhee High, Meridian, Idaho

TE Cayden Dawson, 6-5, 232, University City High, San Diego, California

TE Oliver Fisher, 6-5, 225, Sherwood (Oregon) High

DL Michael Madrie, 6-4, 260, Argyle (Texas) High

DL Max Stege, 6-5, 250, Cologne Crocodiles, Germany

Edge Demanuel Brown, 6-4, 230, Dekaney High, Houston, Texas

CB Khai Taylor, 6-2, 174, Pittsburg (California) High

DB Ty Benefield, 6-2, 185, Crean Luthern, Rancho Sanata Margarita, California

CB Nick Hawthorne, 6-2, 175, Boswell (Texas) High

S Titus Toler, 5-11, 195, Wisconsin, Long Beach, California

LB Chase Martin, 6-1, 205, Thousand Oaks (California) High

CB Gabe Tahir, 6-2, 180, Kamiakin High, Kennewick, Washington

CB A’marion McCoy, 6-1, 170, Laney College, Atherton, California

WR Chase Penry, 6-1, 190, Colorado, Greenwood Village, Colorado

TE Matt Wagner, 6-5, 230, Rock Hill High, Prosper, Texas

Edge Kivon Wright, 6-4, 220, Boston College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edge Tyler Wegis, 6-6, 240, Utah, Ladera Ranch, California

DL Sheldon Newton, 6-4, 315, Northern Arizona, San Jacinto, California

S Milo Lopez, 6-3, 210, Cerritos College, Whittier, California

OT Olugbenga Komolafe, 6-4, 290, Los Medanos College, Pittsburg, California