The latest recruit to join the Broncos’ 2024 class played for a former Boise State QB

The latest recruit to join Boise State’s 2024 class has ties to one of the Broncos’ former quarterbacks.

Oregon City linebacker Clay Martineau verbally committed on Wednesday. He’s a versatile athlete who has lined up on both sides of the ball in high school. His offensive coordinator the past two years was former Boise State quarterback Grant Hedrick.

Hedrick and his father, Shane, who was the head coach at Oregon City, moved on to Cascade High School in Oregon this year, but the former Bronco played a role in Martineau’s recruitment.

He spoke to Boise State head coach Andy Avalos and defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson on Martineau’s behalf, and he left a major impression on his former wide receiver.

“We got really close,” Martineau told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday night. “He wasn’t just my coach. He was also one of my teachers. He was always willing to help, and we always got in extra work after practice.”

Martineau called Hedrick a “great play-caller.”

“He was kind of fearless,” said Martineau, who hauled in 39 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns last season. “He likes to take shots, but he’s also smart about it.”

Oregon City’s new head coach, Aaron Skinner, has been on the job for about five weeks. He said he was excited to work with Martineau before he ever met him in person.

“He’s one of those kids who stand out when you’re just scanning the roster, and you’re like, ‘that kid is going to be special,’” Skinner said. “He has the size. He has a 37-inch vertical leap, and he’s just explosive in everything he does.”

Martineau’s explosiveness has been readily apparent on offense the past few years, but he’ll begin his college career as an inside linebacker.

Defense has been the focus of Boise State’s recruiting class so far. Five of its first six members reside on defense, including edge rusher Roman Caywood, who joined the class Tuesday. The lone offensive recruit in the class is lineman Eyitayo Omotinugbon, who committed on June 16.

Martineau said he plans to play multiple positions on defense and line up at wide receiver again this season, but he has a simple reason for focusing on linebacker at the next level. It’s the position that earned him the most attention during his recruitment.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior also has the stature and athleticism required to play the position at a high level. He posted 72 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions last season.

“I think playing wide receiver and other positions has helped,” he said. “I’m athletic enough to drop into zone and make plays on the ball, and I’m big enough to make plays against the run.”

Martineau is a three-star recruit and the No. 5 overall recruit in Oregon, according to 247Sports. He also has scholarship offers from Washington, Washington State, Air Force, BYU, Nevada, Colorado State, Idaho, Mercer and Portland State.

He visited Boise State on June 16. He has also visited Oregon, Washington State and BYU, but Martineau said he felt at home on the campus in Boise.

“The family atmosphere and how they treated me and my family was great,” he said. “The coaches were all really down to earth, and I felt like I fit there.”

Martineau said he plans to graduate high school early and enroll at Boise State by January 2024.

He also said he can’t wait to start learning from Danielson and Avalos, both of whom played linebacker in college. Avalos played at Boise State and Danielson played at Azusa Pacific in California.

“If I want to be a linebacker, Boise State felt like the place to be,” Martineau said. “The root of the team is built around the defense, and I know I’m going to be well coached while I’m there.”

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