Boise State lands versatile athlete who was committed to a departing Pac-12 school

The Boise State football team picked up a verbal commitment late Thursday night from a player who was committed to one of the many schools departing the Pac-12.

Sire Gaines, a versatile athlete from Orange Vista High in California, was committed to Arizona State, which is leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big 12, but he walked back his pledge a few hours after Spencer Danielson was named Boise State’s new head coach on Sunday.

On Thursday night, Gaines became the 17th member of the Broncos’ 2024 recruiting class.

Gaines told the Idaho Statesman that he flipped his commitment because of Boise State’s history of success and because of how many NFL players the program has produced.

“I wanted to go where I’m surrounded by winners and people who want to be great,” he said on Friday. “With the success Boise State has about sending players to the league regardless of position, I already know the developmental part is there.”

Gaines is the fourth player who has committed to Boise State since former coach Andy Avalos was fired on Nov. 12. The Broncos also have lost two commitments, including Burley wide receiver Gatlin Bair, who would have been the highest-rated recruit in history to sign with the program.

Gaines — a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports — visited Boise State on June 23. He also has scholarship offers from Washington, Oregon State, Arizona, Washington State, San Diego State, Fresno State, San Jose State and Utah State.

The 6-foot, 200-pound native of Perris, California, plays on both sides of the ball at Orange Vista. He’s a talented running back who rushed for 1,677 yards and 27 touchdowns and added 351 receiving yards and three more scores as a senior. He rushed for 855 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught nine touchdown passes last season. Gaines also plays linebacker and tallied 16 tackles, a sack and an interception this year.

Orange Vista head coach Greg Zomalt said Gaines began his high school career strictly on defense, but it didn’t take the Coyotes’ coach long to see he was a natural on offense.

Zomalt said Gaines hauled in four touchdown passes the first time he lined up at wide receiver in a game. The first time he lined up at running back, he carried the ball more than 30 times and racked up more than 200 rushing yards.

“He’s very versatile,” Zomalt said on Friday. “He can catch the ball and run the ball, and he has that dog in him enough to play defense.”

Gaines said Boise State will give him a chance to prove himself on both sides of the ball. He’ll begin his college career at running back and slot receiver, but he’ll also get some reps on defense, focusing primarily on linebacker and safety.

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Zomalt called Gaines one of the most explosive running backs he’s ever coached, but also said he doesn’t mind running over defenders.

“He can make people miss, but I wouldn’t say he’s shifty,” Zomalt said. “He’s not a bull back that is just trying to run over people, but he will smack you and break tackles.”

Gaines described his running style as violent.

“I run violently and angry, but I’m also disciplined,” he said. “When we need a first down, I don’t do any of that dancing stuff. I just get to the sticks.”

If Gaines stays at running back, he’ll join fellow 2024 recruit Dylan Riley, who rushed for 1,852 yards and totaled 27 touchdowns as a senior at Rancho Verde High in California this year. Gaines said he plans to sign on early signing day, which is Dec. 20, and he plans to enroll at Boise State in January.

Gaines and Riley know each other well. They grew up together, shared the same backfield in youth ball and stayed close even as they took the field for rival high schools the past two years. Rancho Verde is only about four miles from Orange Vista.

“We already have the understanding that whoever doesn’t have the ball has to get out and block for the other one,” Gaines said, “and we’re going to push each other every day to be great.”

Just call them thunder and lightning, Gaines said.

“Dylan blows past people,” Gaines said. “I’m looking for contact.”

The Broncos are building what looks like another impressive stable of running backs. Leading rusher Ashton Jeanty announced earlier this week that he’ll return next year after posting 1,262 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns this season. He was named a first-team All-American by USA Today as an all-purpose player on Thursday.

Gaines said he hasn’t met Jeanty in person, but he can’t wait to work with the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year.

“I just know I want to train with him, lift with him, do every rep with him and challenge him,” Gaines said. “He’s one of the best backs in the nation, so if I challenge him and work with him everyday, I’m going to become one of the best backs in the nation when he leaves.”

Freshman Jambres Dubar looked explosive at times in his first season on The Blue, posting 335 yards and two touchdowns on 62 carries, and senior running back George Holani has yet to announce whether he plans to return for his final season of eligibility. Holani has rushed for 610 yards and five touchdowns this season, after posting 1,157 yards on the ground last season. He ranks No. 6 at Boise State with 3,458 career rushing yards.

Boise State 2024 recruiting class

DL Hayden Hanks, 6-3, 270, Thompson Falls (Montana) High

OL Eyitayo Omotinugbon, 6-3, 275, Queen Creek (Arizona) High

S Travis Anderson, 6-0, 175, Mission Viejo (California) High

CB Treyvon Tolmaire, 5-11, 165, Mission Viejo (California) High

Edge Roman Caywood, 6-3, 220, Corner Canyon High, Draper, Utah

LB Clay Martineau, 6-4, 215, Oregon City (Oregon) High

DL Connor Warkentin, 6-5, 260, Centennial High, Bakersfield, California

QB Kaleb Annett, 6-3, 190, Corona Del Mar High, Newport Beach, California

DL Trevor McKenna, 6-6, 255, Borah High, Boise

WR Cameron Bates, 5-6, 195, Mansfield Timberview High, Arlington, Texas

TE Kaden Anderson, 6-4, 225, Chandler (Arizona) High

WR Tyrone Jackson, 6-3, 180, Archbishop Riordan High, San Francisco, California

RB Dylan Riley, 6-0, 185, Rancho Verde High, Moreno Valley, California

OL Gregory Bienvenue, 6-4, 280, Desert Ridge High, Mesa, Arizona

K/P Jarrett Reeser, 5-10, 205, San Diego State, Canyon County, California

DL Lopez Sanusi, 6-3, 280, NFL Academy, London, England

ATH Sire Gaines, 6-0, 200, Orange Vista High, Perris, California