Boise State roster countdown 2017: Day 37 Cameron Hartsfield

We've got just 37 days until kickoff. It just so happens that #37 on the Bronco roster is safety Cameron Hartsfield, what are the odds?

#37, Cameron Hartsfield, Senior, S

Stats

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 199 lbs. (+3)

High School: Allen High School, Allen, TX

How'd he get to The Blue™?

By way of Texas Reno. Yeah, Hartsfield nearly made the terrible mistake of signing with Nevada-Reno after giving them a verbal commitment a week before taking an official to BSU (coincidentally, former Cal commit AJ Richardson was on the same trip). Clearly, Hartsfield realized he'd made a huge mistake and flipped to the Bronco column. Hartsfield had 100 tackles for the 5A Texas State Champion Eagles as a senior in 2012 and also blocked six punts. He was named the MVP of the title game after recording 9 tackles and a 56-yard fumble recovery. Hartsfield also made the all-district first-team in 2012. Hartsfield chose the Broncos over offers from Nevada (natch), Stephen F. Austin, and UTSA.

Nickname

"Hitman"

I like this one, and not just because of his surname’s proximity to the progenitor of the Sharpshooter

Look-a-like

Actor Dulé Hill....PSYCH!

Career highlights

Appeared in all 13 games for the Broncos in 2016, making nine starts and finishing fifth on the team with 65 tackles. Appeared in 12 games for the Broncos in 2015, making 3 tackles (one for loss) and logging a pass break-up. Saw action in all 14 games for the Broncos in 2014. 2012 Texas State title game MVP. All-District first-teamer. 2012 District runner-up in 200m.

2017 prospectus

Hartsfield is easily the most experienced member of the Bronco secondary, with 39 game appearances under his belt—so he’ll be a vital leader for the relatively young group whether he starts or not. When Boise State’s first depth chart came out on Sunday, Hartsfield was listed as the back-up to true-soph Kekoa Nawahine at boundary safety, which to me suggests that Nawahine had a hell of an offseason. I thought when we saw Cam last season, he played pretty well and finishing with 65 tackles, 2 TFLs, and a PBU) is a statline I’d gladly take from any of our defenders. Yet Hartsfield ceded ground to the younger Nawahine at some point and the coaches feel (at least for now), that it’s time to give Kekoa a turn to ply his trade at safety. Given that we have a talented and active defender like Hartsfield potentially coming off the bench in 2017 speaks to how far the safety depth has come in a year—we could hardly scrape two together last spring and there will be more in the wings when camp opens next week (NEXT WEEK).

I think Hartsfield has a nice senior season and still contributes plenty, but his experience and leadership will be the intangible he’ll bring to the field in 2017 and if he can help this young secondary get up to speed in a hurry, the next few years will be fruitful ones for Ambrose and Franklin’s squads.

Is he on Twitter?

He is (@camharts21), but he’s not exactly active...so enjoy his last retweet of him working the phone lines for the BAA.

Completely made up fact

There is a football field in Virginia named after Cameron. Just look for Hartsfield Field in Hartfield.