The Boise State Broncos struck early getting a verbal commitment at a position of need for the 2009 class.
Ebenezer “Ebo”
Makinde, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound cornerback from Paradise Valley High in Phoenix verbally committed to Boise State this week.
As a junior, he rushed the ball 36 times for 258 yards and three touchdowns. He also played cornerback, receiver and kick returner. He recently took fourth in Arizona’s 4A ranks in the 400-meter dash in track. He’s posted an 11.4-second 100-meter dash and is a talented long jumper with a season-best mark of 23 feet, 6 inches.
“He’s got great feet,”
Paradise Valley head coach Donnie Yantis said. “He’s a dynamic kid who can do a lot of things on the field.”
Makinde also has expressed interest in competing in track for the Broncos.
Makinde also sported an offer from UNLV. Yantis also said he had interest from Air Force, Colorado State and Arizona, but wanted to commit early to avoid the stresses of making a decision during or after his senior season.
“He wanted to get it over with,”
Yantis said. “He didn’t want to worry about it and told me he wanted to concentrate on winning a state championship."
“He’s a smart guy and one of the hardest workers I’ve ever had,”
Yantis said. “He’s the kind of guy that can be a team captain-type when he’s a senior.”
Yantis also said that Makinde’s brothers are all more than 6 feet tall, so he expects Makinde to grow before he arrives at Boise State.
Boise State lost commitments from two cornerbacks — Kevin Frank (Washington State) and Mike Williams (Baylor) in the 2008 class.
Verbal commitments are non-binding. Players graduating next summer can sign in February.
