5 Idaho high school football recruits who have seen their recruiting stock increase the most this season
Idaho has seen an uptick in high school football recruiting over the past few years.
NCAA Division I prospects such as Burley’s Gatlin Bair (Boise State) and Bishop Kelly’s Rakeem Johnson (Oregon State) saw their value soar well before the 2023 campaign ever began.
But what about during this season? What recruits are now on more colleges' radars?
We asked Brandon Huffman, 247Sports.com's national recruiting editor, to point to five players in Idaho who have increased their stock value during the fall (players are listed in alphabetical order):
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Photo courtesy of Davis Harsin
OT Leon Evans, Eagle, sr.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder was the first player out Huffman mentioned.
He began as just a long, lanky teenager with really no recruiting momentum to speak of. This was despite going into his third year as a starter. But now, Evans is anchoring an offensive line that is arguably the best in the state. The Mustangs (9-0) are averaging 205.7 yards per game alone on the ground
It’s one of the reasons why they’ve been ranked No. 1 all season and are a favorite to win a Class 5A title.
Idaho and Idaho State have both also taken notice with offers.
While still not quite on the same level as Borah’s Trevor McKenna (Boise State) or Johnson, Huffman said Evans deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as them. He also wouldn’t be surprised if FBS offers from Mountain West schools start coming in.
“I think he’s probably the one that’s positioned himself the best this season in terms of what he’s put on film,” Huffman said. “With him, it’s just a matter of continuing to get bigger and stronger, especially filling out and putting on a little bit more weight."
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QB Davis Harsin, Eagle, sr.
When the 6-foot, 180-pounder moved back to his hometown school from Auburn, Alabama over the summer, he instantaneously became one of the most high-profile players in the state.
He also committed to Idaho State weeks before the season started.
So, why is Harsin on the list?
Well, he still had to not only go out there and prove it, but deal with the immense pressure that comes with the namesake. Harsin is the son of former Boise State and Auburn coach Bryan Harsin.
He’s handled both exceptionally well.
Harsin has completed 59% of his passes for 1,136 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also ran the ball for 203 yards and three scores. But you really have to go beyond the numbers.
It’s been the intangibles and especially his ability to win that have really separated him. Harsin has yet to lose a game under center this season. He has the Mustangs off to their best start in seven years.
Huffman said it’s allowed him to significantly close the gap between himself and Rigby’s Luke Flowers (Montana commit), who is the highest-rated quarterback in Idaho.
"This is a guy that fairly or unfairly was in the spotlight. It’s almost like the prodigal son returns. So there’s a question of, ‘Is he really that good?’ Is he a kid that gets by because he’s a coach’s kid?,’” Huffman said. “Well no, he’s shown this year, it’s not just the football IQ, but he’s got the physical traits to back it up.”
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P/K Tyler Kinsman, Skyview, sr.
Mountain View kicker and Oregon State commit Martin Connington has received most of the recruiting headlines.
But there’s a reason why Boise State quickly offered Kinsman after Connington de-committed from the Broncos a few weeks back.
He had already made a bit of a name for himself over the summer with his showing at the Chris Sailer Kicking Academy, which has been voted as the best kicking and punting camp in the country. It earned him an Ivy League offer from Dartmouth and an invite to the renowned Polynesian Bowl.
Kinsman has a big leg, which with his size at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, might be expected.
He’s sent 30-of-47 (64%) kickoffs for touchbacks, is averaging 58.3 yards per kickoff and has connected on 31-of-34 extra points.
However, he’s arguably a better punter with a 33.1-yard average - and a long of 53 yards.
“When I saw him at the Western Oregon Northwest showcase, he was kicking the hell out of the ball,” Huffman said. “But it was mostly punting the ball. So, he might be a little bit more specialized. But he’s a big dude and you kind of want a big dude as a punter because he’s out there laying guys out.”
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OL Jaxon Peterson, Kuna, sr.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder wasn’t even on the 247Sports.com's rankings for Idaho before the season.
Now he’s leapt all the way up to No. 12 overall after Huffman just watched his film a week and a half ago. He’s not the only one high on Peterson now - so is Idaho coach Jason Eck, who recently offered him.
There was a lot to like about how he played this season.
Peterson was largely responsible for one of the most potent rushing attacks in the state. The Kavemen averaged 224 yards per game - the third most in the 5A classification -behind their right tackle.
Huffman, who was impressed by his natural knee bending ability in the trenches, can see him playing either tackle spot wherever he goes. He would like him to just bulk up a little bit more, though.
“The mentality that most schools have is we want to be done with our recruiting class in the summer. So if you don’t have anything recruiting wise going into your senior year, a lot of cases, you’re dead in the water,” Huffman said. “I hate the phrase, 'Trust the process,' but I think he really did trust the process. I think there’s a value in that.”
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WR Cooper Smith, Boise, sr.
Typically, the most important season for a recruit is junior year.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder spent it playing an entirely different position at quarterback and for a team that had previously produced just one winning season over the last 30 years.
But Smith put himself on the map by having one of the best years statistically at his newfound position.
He hauled in 71 catches for 902 yards and 11 touchdowns. Smith also added 304 rushing yards, three passing touchdowns and three punt return scores. It all helped the Brave (7-3) end the 5A classification’s longest playoff drought at 21 years this fall.
Smith currently doesn’t have any offers. But Huffman thinks that will quickly change with him rocketing up to No. 29 overall in the latest fall rankings. Smith may not get the FBS or even FCS offers, but expect the NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and junior-college ones to start rolling in.
“He won’t wow you with any plus physical traits, he’s not the biggest, he’s not the fastest and he’s not the most explosive dynamic guy,” Huffman said. “But he’s constantly getting separation, constantly getting open, constantly making plays and constantly catching the ball. There’s always a place for a guy who can catch the ball and move the chains.”
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(Featured file photo courtesy of Boise athletics)
