This kicker plans to follow in footsteps of another local specialist at Boise State

It didn’t take much to convince Mountain View kicker Martin Connington to accept a scholarship offer from Boise State.

He grew up in Meridian as a die-hard fan of the Broncos. He thinks Boise State coach Andy Avalos is building something special, and he was in the eighth grade when he started working with the Broncos’ newest special teams coach, Tyler Rausa.

He said all of those factors made choosing Boise State over scholarship offers from Oregon State and Idaho an easy decision, but they weren’t what sealed the deal.

What convinced Connington to commit to the Broncos verbally on Wednesday was the chance to eventually take over for another local kicker: former Rocky Mountain star Jonah Dalmas.

“Following in the footsteps of a kicker who has set records upon records and is one of the best in the country is a tough thing to do, but I’m excited for it,” Connington told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday.

Dalmas joined the Broncos as a walk-on after returning from an LDS mission and earning a tryout in 2020. He earned a scholarship later that year, and he set Boise State’s single-season field goal record with 26 in 2021.

He has a chance to become the program’s all-time field goals leader this season. Dalmas ranks No. 2 in program history with 56 career field goals. He needs to hit 12 to break Kyle Brotzman’s record of 67.

“It’s incredible what he’s done,” Connington said. “He has developed and gotten better each and every year, which is what you have to do.”

Dalmas, a senior, has two more years of eligibility, but he’s been open about his dream of an NFL career. He could try to make the jump after this season — especially if he’s holding the title of most productive kicker in Boise State history.

Connington said Dalmas showed kickers in the Treasure Valley the path to success in college football. He also said he wants to be next in line if this is Dalmas’ last season on The Blue.

Connington said Wednesday that he plans to graduate high school early and enroll at Boise State by January 2024.

“It’s a great opportunity to have six months of weightlifting and spring ball, which is going to put me in the best position to start on day one,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you go to college or where you’re ranked in high school, the moment you step on campus it’s game on and it’s whoever wants it more.”

To win the job, he’ll have to beat out Wyatt Redding, who is a redshirt freshman this year, and freshman Josh Horn — a walk-on who was teammates with Connington at Bishop Kelly. Connington transferred to Mountain View after his sophomore year.

He knows the competition will be fierce, but he said the past few years have prepared him for that.

“Between games, camps and training, it can get stressful because you’re always competing, but that’s not a bad thing,” said Connington, who plans to major in software engineering or computer science at Boise State. “It’s a grind, but there’s a reward for all your hard work.”

Connington certainly has the pedigree to believe he can show up on campus and compete for a starting job right away. He’s the No. 1 kicker in the 2024 class, according to Kohl’s Kicking, which gave him a five-star rating as a kicker and a punter.

Last season, he won the Chris Sailer kicking award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top high school kicker.

Power was the first word that came to mind when Mountain View coach Brian Compton was asked to describe Connington. That’s especially true on kickoffs, where he averages more than 65 yards per kick and has a hang time of more than four seconds, according to Chris Sailer Kicking.

Compton also described Connington as a student of the game.

“I have never been around a kicker who studies his craft more than Martin,” Compton said Wednesday. “He has attended numerous camps and been involved with numerous experts to refine his swing and approach. He has an absolute passion for the position.”

Connington’s kicking and punting career began when he was in the eighth grade, which also happens to be when he started working with Rausa, who was Boise State’s kicker in 2015 and 2016.

“He really helped develop my field goals and helped me gain accuracy, consistency and power,” Connington said.

Boise State 2024 recruiting class

DL Hayden Hanks, 6-3, 270, Thompson Falls (Montana) High

OL Eyitayo Omotinugbon, 6-3, 275, Queen Creek (Arizona) High

S Travis Anderson, 6-0, 175, Mission Viejo (California) High

CB Treyvon Tolmaire, 5-11, 165, Mission Viejo (California) High

Edge Roman Caywood, 6-3, 220, Corner Canyon High, Draper, Utah

LB Clay Martineau, 6-4, 215, Oregon City (Oregon) High

S Tice Williams, 6-3, 187, Conroe (Texas) High

DL Connor Warkentin, 6-5, 260, Centennial High, Bakersfield, California

QB Kaleb Annett, 6-3, 190, Corona Del Mar High, Newport Beach, California

DL Trevor McKenna, 6-6, 255, Borah High, Boise

WR Gatlin Bair, 6-2, 198, Burley (Idaho) High

WR Cameron Bates, 5-10, 165, Manfield Timberview High, Arlington, Texas

K Martin Connington, 6-0, 190, Mountain View High, Meridian, Idaho