Boise State adds defensive recruits (again), including versatile tackle from California

The Boise State football team added two more defensive recruits to its 2024 class on Monday.

Tice Williams, a safety from Conroe, Texas, and Connor Warkentin, a defensive lineman from Bakersfield, California, both announced their verbal commitments on Twitter.

Seven of the first eight recruits in the Broncos’ new class play on defense, including linebacker Clay Martineau, who joined last week. The lone recruit on offense is lineman Eyitayo Omotinugbon, who committed on June 16.

Warkentin is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports. The 6-5, 260-pounder also has scholarship offers from Air Force, Army, San Diego State, Fresno State, Nevada, Eastern Washington, UC Davis, Sacramento State and Northern Arizona.

He was invited to the annual Redlands camp in California in June by Boise State offensive line coach Tim Keane. Warkentin said he caught a ride to the camp with a teammate and put on a solid performance in front of several of the Broncos’ coaches, including head coach Andy Avalos.

He made a three-day visit to Boise State in late June and picked up an offer before he left town. Warkentin said he took some time to make his decision, but he was sold on the program almost as soon as he stepped on campus.

“We walked in the door and the whole staff, at least 20 people, were sitting there ready to welcome me and my dad,” Warkentin told the Idaho Statesman on Monday. “After eight hours of traveling, it felt really nice for them to welcome us.”

Warkentin said the Broncos’ nutrition and weightlifting programs, their facilities and — of course — the blue turf in Albertsons Stadium all left big impressions on him.

“The blue turf is something special,” he said. “On TV, it catches you off-guard, but once you get there and see it in real life, it’s special.”

A meeting with former Boise State defensive tackle Scott Matlock left even more of an impression, Warkentin said.

Matlock, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in April, sat with Warkentin, defensive line coach Erik Chinander and defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson discussing the program for about 20 minutes.

Warkentin said Chinander and Danielson envision him filling the same role that Matlock had for the Broncos the past three seasons.

Matlock, a native of Homedale, appeared in 44 games, starting 32, during his five-year college career. He led the Broncos with seven sacks in 2020. He also lined up on offense in goal line packages and caught the second touchdown pass of his career last year.

“He said he was hoping Boise was going to be the spot for me,” Warkentin said. “It was cool hearing that from a guy who everybody looks up to when he walks in the building.”

Warkentin is heading into his fourth season as a varsity defensive lineman at Centennial. He also played offensive tackle the past three years and got some recruiting interest on offense. He said Fresno State offered him as an offensive lineman, but the defensive line is where his heart is.

“It’s the position I’ve always loved,” said Warkentin, adding that he plans to also play tight end this year. “I want (playing D-line) to be boring because teams don’t want to run to my side this year. I want them to have to double-team me.”

Warkentin said everything is in place for him to graduate high school early and enroll at Boise State in January 2024.

He said he and his best friend, Jaxton Santiago, a tight end committed to Boston College, are waiting to see how the hiring of a new basketball coach at Centennial unfolds before making their final decisions.

If Santiago’s father gets the job, they’re both going to stay for basketball season and graduate with the rest of their class. If he doesn’t, they’re both leaving for college early.

Warkentin said he hasn’t played basketball during his high school career, but he’s played in the past and he’s not a one-trick pony like a lot of post players.

“I’m not just a back you down to the basket guy who gets rebounds,” he said. “I can shoot it, too.”

Tice, who did not return a phone call from the Statesman on Monday, is a three-star recruit with a long list of scholarship offers, according to 247Sports: North Texas, Oregon State, Air Force, Tulsa, Sam Houston State, Texas State, Colorado State, Army and Navy. He also has offers from several Ivy League schools, including Yale, Dartmouth and Columbia.

The 6-foot-3, 187-pounder played wide receiver and safety at Conroe.

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

S Tice Williams, 6-3, 187, Conroe (Texas) High

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