‘I’m here to win.’ Boise State adds JUCO lineman with aspirations of playing in the NFL

The latest addition to Boise State’s 2023 recruiting class had a cup of coffee at the junior college level before he had his choice of scholarships from Division I programs to choose from.

Offensive tackle Olugbenga Komolafe spent one season at Los Medanos Community College in Pittsburg, California. He said Thursday that he was only there for about six months but he did enough to earn scholarship offers from Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico, Morgan State and Stephen F. Austin.

The Broncos just started recruiting Komolafe about a month ago, but he said Boise State’s history of success and the connection he has already formed with offensive line coach Tim Keane made his choice easy.

Komolafe announced his commitment Thursday evening. He has four years of eligibility left. He plans to take part in spring practice, which begins in March.

“The coaching staff let me know they have a plan for me and they see potential in me,” Komolafe told the Idaho Statesman. “Winning and success is a big part of their program and I’m here to win.”

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Komolafe said Keane, who joined the Broncos’ staff in 2021, has already become almost like a father figure to him.

“He has a good heart,” Komolafe said. “I already love him as a coach and I’m ready to go to work for him.”

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound left tackle went to Los Medanos straight out of high school. He played at Liberty High in Pittsburg, California, and had scholarship offers from a couple of Division II schools after a career that included all-state honors, but Komolafe said he felt like he was destined for bigger things, so he went the junior college route.

“I owe the coaches at Los Medanos a lot,” he said. “They helped me grow as a player and a man, and I can’t thank them enough.”

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Boise State has a history of producing NFL caliber offensive linemen, especially at left tackle. Ezra Cleveland, Ryan Clady and Charles Leno Jr. all went on to have careers in the NFL after their time with the Broncos. John Ojukwu, who started two years at right tackle and the last three at left, has a chance to hear his name called in this year’s draft.

The long list of NFL players Boise State has produced wasn’t lost on Komolafe.

“The coaches believe in me and they can develop me into that kind of player,” he said. “That was the goal, to go to a school that can develop me so I can take that next step.”

Komolafe is the eighth transfer to join Boise State’s 2023 recruiting class. He’s the third junior college transfer in the class, joining safety Milo Lopez (Cerritos College) and cornerback A’Marion McCoy (Laney College).

The Broncos have also added safety Titus Toler (Wisconsin), wide receiver Chase Penry (Colorado), edge rushers Tyler Wegis (Utah) and Kivon Wright (Boston College) and defensive tackle Sheldon Newton (Northern Arizona).

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