Boise State football adds two more recruits to 2021 recruiting class

BOISE, Idaho — Boise State football added two more recruits to the roster on National Signing Day, rounding out the 2021 recruiting class to 17 players.

“I’m looking forward to their impact on this program, and the things that they will be able to do. Not only to help our family and our brotherhood grow here but obviously what they will add to our football team,” said Andy Avalos, Boise State head football coach.

Ben Ford, the first Bronco recruit of the day to sign their National Letter of Intent, comes from Eagle, Idaho, who grew up dreaming of playing on the Blue one day.

“It means a ton obviously to be close to my family," said Ford. "Then to be able to play on the turf, you know, I watched guys play there when I was growing up. It’s really just a dream come true.”

Ford was the 2020 Idaho High School Football Player of the Year and had Division I offers to play baseball.

“Ever since I was younger, I grew to love baseball as well, but it has always just really been football," said Ford. "Avalos is doing a great job over there. I just wanted to go be a part of it.”

"He had the opportunity to play both moving on, and that says a lot about him as an athlete," said Avalos. "What he does on the field, you can see his natural ability at the wide receiver position and his ability to separate with or without the ball, to catch the ball in traffic, and the mentality he brings to our program of how he plays the game.”

The Broncos also added Cyrus Habibi-Likio, a running back transfer from the University of Oregon.

“It’s a blessing and an honor," said Habibi-Likio. "I told coach that I noticed that a lot of alumni come back to coach. There is always alumni on the coaching staff that just shows the sense of brotherhood, and that is huge, so to be a part of that, especially to run around on the blue field, is awesome.”

A decision he said was easy after Avalos announced that he was headed to Boise State.

“We got some familiar faces, some coaches from Oregon, so they’re super excited," said Habibi-Likio. "We know how Boise is such a huge brotherhood and family atmosphere, and that is what we are looking for.”

"He is a tremendous player on the field, but who he is and what he brings to this program, he is going to have an instant impact," said Avalos.

The Broncos also announced that eight seniors, including wide receivers C.T. Thomas and Octavius Evans, are using their extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to return for another year.

“Those guys are tremendous leaders, and they have been in their time here at Boise State and will continue to do so and create the environment that we want to continue to live in and grow in and thrive in," said Avalos.