clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Crockett Calls It

Damarea Crockett ends his recruitment, pledging his services to Boise State today.

By Casey Joplin
Ralph Freso/Getty Images

While on an unofficial visit today, 4-star RB Damarea Crockett sealed the deal, verbally committing to the Broncos. This is HUGE for the Broncos as they have never landed a 4* RB. We have had some highly touted RBs, but never one the likes of Crockett. He spurned offers from many schools, most notably Arizona State and Vanderbilt, to help the Broncos demolish their opponents in the MW.

Listed at 5'11.5" and 212lbs and hailing from Little Rock Christian in Little Rock, AR, he comes in as one of the most physically imposing backs we have ever had. Ajayi came in at 5'11" and 175 lbs, Doug Martin came in at 5'11" 193 lbs. While his 40 time clocked at the Dallas Nike Combine in March this year won't blow you away (4.71s), he plays MUCH faster than that. He recorded the highest SPARQ score at the Dallas Combine and the second highest score in the nation.  I think the number that sticks out to me the most is his 40.3 inch vertical—that's ridiculous and wholly indicative of the physically-freakish athlete he is.

Regardless of what his 40 time is, what he weighs, or how many offers he has, you immediately realize he is something special watching his film. He is nothing like we have had on The Blue™. His running style, his vision, his open-field speed, all not comparable to what we have had on the field in the past. That isn't to say he is leaps and bounds better than any previous running backs, but we can't really compare him to anyone. Ajayi was a very upright runner, Martin had a bob-and-weave to him, and Ian Johnson had an animated stride to go along with his quick cuts. Crockett exhibits many of these same qualities, but not like the rest of them.

I don't want to put undue expectations on Damarea as he isn't even 18 yet. He still has his senior year to play and college is a different game. Having said that, I think Crockett, along with Robert Mahone, will be pretty tough to stop. They will continue the RBU tradition that Johnson, Martin and Ajayi had helped foster. Welcome to Bronco Nation Damarea!

And if you had any illusions we'll have to white-knuckle it until February, Crockett's last tweet should give you many well rested nights throughout the rest of recruiting season.