Boise State Football: 5 Most Disappointing Decommits in Boise State History

Boise State is known for a lot of things, but highly ranked recruiting classes is not one of them. Still, the Broncos have been able to recruit their own type of player using their own criteria, and it has worked out rather well. 

The Broncos of course, look for talented and athletic players, but they look for more than just that when searching for recruits. A solid work-ethic, a commitment to education, a motivation for playing, the ability to be a team player and character are all on the checklist of desirable attributes.

Over the years this method has provided a steady stream of solid players and quality teams that have made Bronco Nation proud. Another benefit of this type of method ls that it ensures that not many of the early "verbal commits" back out of a Boise State pledge.

However, there is a list of those who have gotten cold feet and changed their minds after making an early promise to play football for the Broncos.

It is of course the kind of thing that is expected when you are dealing with 17- and 18-year-old young men. To say that some of them may have problems with commitment is quite an understatement. Still, by their own actions they probably prove they weren't Boise State material anyway.

In this highly competitive and modern era of college football, it is painful when highly recruited player makes the claim that they will be attending your favorite school only to then change their mind. With one painful news article you find out that they have chosen to go elsewhere.

Let's look at five of the most painful recruiting decommits in Boise State history, at least recent history.

Malcolm Holland

Malcolm Holland is in a class all by himself. He was originally recruited to the 2011 class, and actually went through with his commitment, signing on the dotted line for the Broncos.

However, when he was selected in the 33rd round of the baseball draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June of 2011, everything changed.

Holland was an excellent defensive back out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. He is fast, and could have been very helpful last season with the lack of depth the Broncos experienced in the secondary. But, as it happened, Holland chose baseball over his football career with Boise State.

Holland had 160,000 reasons for going the baseball path. The Dodgers paid the young draft pick $160,000 to give baseball a try. How many young men would turn that down?

In any case, it is a story of "what might have been." As far as his baseball career goes, it appears he might not have made the right choice. In his two year career with the Dodgers' organization, Holland has a batting average of .188, but to be fair he is batting .229 so far this season.

It is unfortunate for Boise State that Holland chose to dodge the Broncos for baseball. He could have been a big help on a thin defense.  

Will Shamburger

Will Shamburger was ready to attend Boise State and seemed excited about it. That is, until he visited.

According to an article on OBNUG.com, Shamburger may have had an issue with the fact that football was what he would have to concentrate on if he came to Boise State, rather than entertainment. According to the article Shamburger was quoted as saying, "There wasn't a whole lot to do there in Boise."

Apparently, Shamburger didn't think he would be busy enough with football so he opted to go elsewhere. The safety out of Bellflower High School in Bellflower, California chose the Washington Huskies and the adventure capital known as Seattle, Washington as his exciting new destination.

Shamburger would have been part of the Boise State 2009 class, instead he is just a Bronco memory. But, how has he done for the Huskies?

Now entering his redshirt senior season, Shamburger looks to be a starter in 2012. He was injured in 2009 as a freshman, but has contributed in the past two seasons playing in 21 of 26 games for the Huskies.

He has career totals of 41 tackles and no interceptions for Washington. Who knows if those totals would have been greater as a Bronco? Just be thankful that this article didn't have a single "hamburger" joke, as that would have been far too predictable.

Jamie Byrd

Jamie Byrd is a safety out of Dade City, Florida, and he should have been a Bronco. However, he chose not to attend. Which, would have been just fine for Bronco fans if he had not chosen to join the enemy.

Byrd was a highly recruited defensive player, and Boise State thought he was going to be a Bronco. However, in a last second switch, Byrd signed with the Horned Frogs.

What makes this even more painful is that Byrd, even though he redshirted the 2011 season, was part of the TCU team that crushed the Broncos BCS dreams when Dan Goodale's kick went wide right. Actually, wide right is not an accurate enough description, but it will have to suffice.

If Byrd had remained a Bronco he may have seen playing time, and with the secondary depth an issue last season because of injuries, he may have seen a lot of playing time. Who knows? It may have made a big difference for the Broncos. 

In the end this is the Byrd that flew away just to be a frog, when he could have been a Bronco.

Thaddeus Brown

Thaddeus Brown is a defensive back out of Notre Dame High School in Pasadena, California. He is fast, strong, agile and a member of the Nevada Wolf Pack.

In 2008 the Broncos thought Brown would be playing on "The Blue." However, his decision only made the coaching staff blue, and it sent him into enemy territory, a.k.a., Reno, Nevada.

What makes it more painful is that Brown was part of the 2010 Wolf Pack team that benefited from two missed Kyle Brotzman field goals and crushed the Broncos' BCS dreams. This game is simply known to Bronco fans as "the game that is not spoken of."

Brown played in that game, and was a key reserve who recorded tackles in every game that season according to the Wolf Pack's website. Brown is another defensive secondary player that Boise State could have certainly used over the course of the last few seasons.

Brown redshirted in 2008, so he will be a redshirt senior in 2012 as the Wolf Pack enters the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos will have one more opportunity to face Brown. It will be very interesting to see it all happen the last game of the regular season back in Reno. It could be for a MWC title.

Matt Goudis

Matt Goudis is a young man with some commitment problems. The Broncos were very excited to have Goudis pledge his loyalty to the Broncos 2011 recruiting class, even though a team like Michigan was looking at him. A quote from Scout.com had to be reassuring for Bronco Nation.

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"I’m 100 percent in my commitment to Boise State as of right now and have every intention of signing with them on national signing day,” said Scout.com’s No. 5 kicker, Matt Goudis. “Michigan offered me two weeks after I committed to Boise and I just want to check it out–that’s why I took an official there. But I don’t expect to decommit from Boise State though. And as of right now I have no plans to go anywhere else for official visits."

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However, the three-star prospect then decommitted and pledged his loyalty to Michigan.

But, it doesn't stop there. After decommiting from Boise State to Michigan, Goudis then decommitted from Michigan to Miami as reported at Rivals.com. 

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"CaneSport.com is reporting that kicker Matt Goudis of West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade has switched his commitment after a weekend official visit. The former Boise State pledge had switched to U-M in late December and is the Wolverines' third de-commit this month."

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As the old saying goes, "third time's a charm." Goudis redshirted last season for the Hurricanes and looked good this spring.

What is so painful about this decommit is the fact that Goudis may have very well won the starting job for the Broncos in 2011. If that had happened who knows how the TCU game would have ended up. But, Bronco fans can't dwell on it, and they won't.

They probably hadn't even thought of it until now. You're welcome!

Others

Over the years the Broncos have been somewhat fortunate that they haven't lost an extreme number of verbally committed players. However, as mentioned here, they have lost a few.

The most recent was a wide receiver named Chris Seisay out of American Canyon High School in California. He came to Boise and gave his verbal commitment, but then had second thoughts.

Of course, those second thoughts came in the way of an offer from Oregon. In fact, it was almost like Oregon punched the Broncos in the face. What? Too soon?

Seisay would have been a nice pick up for the Broncos, but wide receivers have never been in short supply around Bronco Land, so it is one that won't be particularly painful.

Marcus Rios was a player that the Broncos spent quite a bit of time recruiting and so is KT Tuumalo. However, both of those players chose to go elsewhere. Tuumalo, a linebacker, signed with Colorado. Meanwhile Rios, a cornerback, signed with UCLA. Both would have been included in the 2011 class.

It is all part of the game, and it will always be. Unless of course they get rid of the "verbal commitment" all together. However, don't expect that to happen any time soon.

Until then, verbal commits should be treated like a lottery ticket. You can hope all you want, but don't go blowing your paycheck because you "think" you have won.

The Broncos have several verbal commits already in line for 2013. If they remain they should be part of the highest ranked recruiting class in BSU history. If they remain.