BOISE – Wednesday was the traditional National Signing Day for the 2023 recruiting class and the Broncos announced the additions of five scholarship players and seven walk-ons.
Many recruits have already signed and been on campus for some time now, opting to take advantage of the early signing day on Dec. 21. Nonetheless, Boise State announced 12 more players coming on as either scholarship or walk-on athletes in addition to the 22 signees announced to end 2022.
Losing a fair amount of production on the defensive side of the ball to the NFL Draft this offseason, it was a priority for Boise State to land some experienced guys to reload for 2023.
The Broncos did just that.
Boise State landed four defensive transfers, two coming over from Power Five programs.
EDGE rusher Kivon “Cheese” Wright transferred from Boston College following one season with the Golden Eagles while defensive lineman Tyler Wegis makes his way to the Broncos from the University of Utah.
Defensive lineman Sheldon Newton from Northern Arizona and defensive back Milo Lopez from Cerritos College (CA) shape up the rest of the defensive transfers. Newton brings three years of experience including tallying a career-high 36 tackles for the Lumberjacks in 2022. Lopez registered 101 tackles for Cerritos College in his two years playing for the Falcons.
These transfers were previously verbally committed to the Broncos, but made it official Wednesday morning by each signing their National Letter of Intent.
An unexpected move came with the addition of offensive lineman Favor Komolafe. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound junior college transfer from Pittsburg, Calif. was offered by other Mountain West schools including Hawaii and New Mexico.
Boise State also welcomed on several athletes from the Treasure Valley as walk-ons including Max Cutforth from Skyview High School at the quarterback position.
Players announced by Boise State as official members of the 2023 recruiting class (with bios provided by Boise State):
Kivon “Cheese” Wright – 6-foot-2.5, 232-pound EDGE transfer from Boston College (Manvel, Texas)
Three-star recruit per 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals…in six games as a senior, registered 23 tackles, including seven for-loss, six sacks, 13 quarterback hurries and forced a fumble. Wright played high school football for Manvel High School in Texas and redshirted in 2022 for Boston College.
𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 ✍️ #BlueBlood23
→ @iam_kdw
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/2Jwp7tmbP1— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Tyler Wegis – 6-foot-6, 242-pound defensive line transfer from Utah (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Three-star recruit per 247Sports…as a senior, recorded 92 tackles, including 37 for-loss, 10.5 sacks, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and blocked an extra-point attempt…notched 62 tackles, including 19 for-loss, 6.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a safety during his junior year…named to the All-Orange County First Team as a senior and All-Sea View League Second Team as a junior. Wegis did not see action throughout 2020 and 2021 for the Utes but registered one tackle as a redshirt sophomore in 2022.
𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 ✍️ #BlueBlood23
→ @TWegis
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/h74JHK3xke— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Milo Lopez – 6-foot-1.5, 200-pound defensive back from Cerritos College (CA)
Played on both sides of the ball in high school as a S/WR combo…in 14 games as a senior, recorded 102 tackles, 14 pass breakups, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and blocked a field goal…on offense, amassed 508 yards receiving and seven touchdowns on 29 receptions, adding 127 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 15 carries…notched 68 tackles, 12 pass breakups, three interceptions and forced a fumble in nine games as a junior…named Del Rio League Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-CIF and third-team all-state as a senior…two-sport student-athlete, competing in football and track and field. Lopez appeared in 22 games throughout his career at Cerritos college and tallied 101 tackles.
𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 ✍️ #BlueBlood23
→ @milomlopez
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/KKt8B2OTOw— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Sheldon Newton – 6-foot-3, 330-pound defensive line transfer from Northern Arizona (San Jacinto, Calif.)
Amassed 109 tackles (72 solo), including 15 for-loss and 12 sacks during his prep career…as a senior, recorded 79 tackles, including 10 for-loss, and 10 sacks (averaged 6.6 tackles/game)…added three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and hauled in two touchdown receptions…named to CIF Southern Section Division 6 First Team in 2019. Newton started nine games in 2022 for Northern Arizona and recorded a career-high 36 tackles. The defensive lineman also tallied three sacks and two pass break ups including a fumble recovery at Arizona State.
𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 ✍️ #BlueBlood23
→ @SheldonNewton7
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/4JaeOZwcHN— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Boen Phelps – 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back from Freeman HS (Rockford, Wash.)
Played on both sides of the ball in high school as a LB/S/QB/WR…in seven games as a senior, Phelps registered 91 tackles (averaging 13 tackles/game), including five for-loss…forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and had an interception…on the offensive side of the ball, completed 103 passes for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns…added 426 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 39 carries…hauled in two receptions for 46 yards…two-sport student-athlete, competing in football and basketball.
ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅ 🔒 #BlueBlood23
→ @BoenPhelps
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UOlu pic.twitter.com/eCMbxGeFLg— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Troy Wilkey – 5-foot-8, 157-pound defensive back from Rocky Mountain HS (Meridian, ID)
Played on both defense and special teams during his prep career…as a senior, recorded 64 tackles and anchored a secondary that allowed just 130 yards/game…scored four special teams touchdowns…All-Idaho First-Team honoree…two-sport student-athlete, competing in football and track.
ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅ 🔒 #BlueBlood23
→ @TroyWilkey3
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/XYlYI7nLMm— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Bridjer Bivens – 6-foot-1, 263-pound offensive lineman from Meridian HS (Meridian, ID)
Helped Meridian to an 11-1 record in 2022, including a 5-0 conference mark…two-time first-team all-conference selection on the offensive line…two-sport student-athlete, competing in both football and wrestling.
ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅ 🔒 #BlueBlood23
→ @BridjerB
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/Z3YrRZNtQ4— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Josh Horn – 5-foot-11, 185-pound kicker from Bishop Kelly HS (Boise, ID)
Primary field goal and kickoff specialist…3-for-5 on field goals, including connecting on a 47-yard attempt…64-for-65 on PAT…73% of kickoffs went for touchbacks…successfully executed five onside kicks as a senior…first-team all-conference and second-team all-state selection in 2022.
ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅ 🔒 #BlueBlood23
→ @JoshuaHorn1213
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/F26rWYEXzo— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Max Cutforth – 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback from Skyview HS (Nampa, ID)
Rated as the No. 22 recruit in Idaho per 247Sports…in six games as a senior, Cutforth completed 116 passes for 1,640 yards and 16 touchdowns…completed 70% of his passes…added 76 yards and five touchdowns on 31 attempts rushing…two-sport student-athlete, competing in football and basketball.
ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅ 🔒 #BlueBlood23
→ @CutforthMax
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/3RNem7oCU7— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Ryker Clinger – 5-foot-11, 190-pound defensive back from Shelley Senior HS (Shelley, ID)
Rated as the No. 43 prospect in the state of Idaho per 247Sports…Shelley Senior’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards…played on both sides of the ball in high school as a DB/RB combo…accumulated 1,872 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior, including 1,257 yards rushing…added 1,690 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns his senior season, including 1,101 yards on the ground…three-sport student-athlete, competing in football, basketball and track.
ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅ 🔒 #BlueBlood23
→ @ryker_clinger
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/7auleJfJIR— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Cole Miller – 5-foot-11, 169-pound defensive back from Bishop Kelly HS (Boise, ID)
Rated as the No. 61 recruit in the state of Idaho per 247Sports…as a junior, recorded 88 tackles, eight pass breakups and one interception…added 50.5 tackles, 10 pass breakups, two interceptions and forced a fumble during his senior season…also scored two touchdowns…two-sport student-athlete, competing in football and track and field…two-time triple jump state champion as a sophomore and junior.
ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅ 🔒 #BlueBlood23
→ @ColeMiller31
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/O7wfZ5JgMN— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
Favor Komolafe – 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive lineman from Pittsburg, CA (Los Medanos Community College)
Komolafe played seven games on the offensive line for Los Medanos in 2022 and played on both the offensive and defensive lines in his prep career for Liberty High School in Northern California.
𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 ✍️ #BlueBlood23
→ @6allin9
#BleedBlue | https://t.co/LRT030UgvW pic.twitter.com/oe5qfe3thY— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) February 1, 2023
