College Football Recruiting 2012: Is Boise State Close to Offering Chris Santini

We got a chance to catch up with Leland (CA) High School strong safety/linebacker Chris Santini while at the Los Angeles Under Armour combine this weekend. Standing out among 250 players at an event is a remarkable feat, and Santini impressed and stood out indeed.

Santini came out and displayed why he's one of the top defensive players in California for the 2012 class. He lined up mostly at outside linebacker through the weekend, but also can play strong safety.

The recruiting cycle is starting to rev up for Santini as he's due to receive his first official offer on Tuesday from a prominent BCS Bowl participant.

Who? Well you're just going to have to come read and see.

Santini Scouting Report

Santini is a 6'1", 200 pound hybrid strong safety-outside linebacker type. He's the perfect player to play the "ROVER" or "SPUR" role in a 3-3-5 type of defense. In a 4-3 set, he could play either strong safety, but likely will grow into a solid outside linebacker.

He's strong on his feet, but also plenty quick. Santini comes up to fill alley's hard and fast and never backs away from challenging the line of scrimmage. He sniffs out ball carriers well in the box and is very instinctive against the run.

He's not the type of player you want covering scat backs out of the backfield all night long, and needs to work on his route recognition from the safety spot. He shots he can be fooled a bit by double route combos and receivers that release vertical to attack him.

Santini in His Own Words

Santini told Bleacher Report:

"I really feel my biggest asset is my range and play speed. I can make plays and tackles from sideline to sideline. I feel alleys fast and I'm pretty good at press coverage at the line. I'm also a good tackler."

"My weakness is events like this. I'm not a good combine tester and I stress out over my times all the time. On the field, I'd have to say my route recognition skills. I need to start seeing things better and faster."

Santini's Impressive Stat Sheet

Last year as a junior, Santini put up impressive numbers across the board, which he's proud off. Yet Santini still wants to improve upon his junior year in his senior year at Leland. Here are his junior stats:

102 tackles

9 passes broken up

2 interceptions

2 blocked PAT's (4 as a sophomore)

Improving on those all around numbers will be a tough task, but Santini showed at the combine he's up for the task.

Is Boise State Ofering Santini This Week?

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Chris Petersen (L) and quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos hold up a trophy as they celebrate their 26-3 victory over the Utah Utes in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2

Santini told Bleacher Report, "I'm supposed to call Chris Petersen this week. On Tuesday actually.Boise State's been talking to my coach, and now they want me to call Coach Petersen on Tuesday. So we'll see."

Usually when a school tells you to call a the head coach, it's not so he can ask what you favorite color is. This is a strong signal that the Broncos will be offering Santini a scholarship this week.

"I wanna get that first offer out of the way. Because usually after that first offer comes, a lot more start flowing in." Santini told me.

Who Else Is in the Santini Sweepstakes?

Santini also told me he is hearing from Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Syracuse and Arizona State. He wants to keep his options open and likes a lot of schools at the moment.

Yet, look for Santini to like the idea of playing for Boise State, Chris Petersen and on the Blue Turf. The first offer always goes a long way, an offering Santini on Tuesday will certainly help the Broncos in their efforts to land Santini.