Some football players blow away the competition during the season but fade into the background when the season is on the line. Others know how to turn it on in the playoffs.
Count the latest wide receiver to join Boise State’s 2025 recruiting class in the latter category.
Gavin Packer hauled in six touchdown passes in Skyview (Washington) High’s first two state playoff games last season. He scored three times in the first half of a 42-7 win over Skyline , which propelled the Storm to their first state quarterfinal appearance since 2016.
“There’s a lot on the line in the playoffs, and you just have to elevate your game,” Packer told the Statesman.
Last season wasn’t the first time Packer rose to the occasion in the postseason. He started his first varsity game as a cornerback during the playoffs his freshman year and returned an interception 103 yards for a touchdown to help the Storm advance.
“The bigger the games get, the more we lean on him, because we know we can trust that kid,” Skyview head coach Steve Kizer said. “He raises his game to another level when the competition is at its highest.”
Boise State offered Packer a scholarship on June 24 and he committed the same day . He’s a three-star recruit and the No. 16 overall prospect in Washington, according to 247Sports. He also has scholarship offers from Air Force, Nevada, Idaho, Idaho State, Portland State, Eastern Washington, Montana State and Western Oregon, but he said he’d been waiting for an offer from the Broncos.
“I knew if I got an offer from them, I didn’t want to pass it up,” Packer said. “It’s a winning program, and winning is fun. They also have a great coaching staff, and they’re going in the right direction.”
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Built for the slot
At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Packer is an undersized receiver, but he’s also one of the fastest recruits in Washington. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds during a camp at USC last year, and while he lines up on the outside at Skyview, he expects to move to the slot at Boise State.
“He’s faster than everyone thinks,” Kizer said. “He’s one of the fastest receivers we’ve had for a while on paper, and he’s even faster on the field.”
Packer began his high school career as a quarterback on Skyview’s freshman team, and he’s played plenty of defensive back the past two seasons, operating mostly as a nickelback last season. Kizer said he’ll start at cornerback and wide receiver this year, and he’ll see time as a wildcat quarterback.
“He’s a great leader, and he knows the game as well as the coaches,” Kizer said. “He’s a student of the game, and Boise (State) is getting a really good player who will end up being a go-to guy wherever he lines up.”
Packer knows the game so well because he’s the son of a coach. His father, Brad, coaches Skyview’s defensive line and runs the team’s weightlifting program. He also runs A3 Advanced Athlete Academy, a Vancouver-based performance training facility.
Packer said having a father that had him in the gym at a young age gave him a leg up on the competition.
“I started going hard in the gym in middle school,” Packer said. “My dad is very smart, football-wise, and he helps me a lot, whether it’s breaking down an opponent or developing a workout routine to help recover from an injury.”
Kizer knows the family well. He coached Brad Packer when he was an inside linebacker at Eastern Washington from 1997 to 2000. Kizer said Packer and his father share a lot of traits that serve them well on the field.
“They’re the same, in terms of being competitive,” said Kizer, adding that both father and son are also talented basketball players. “Gavin definitely has a chip on his shoulder. Teams put their best corner on him and no one can cover him. If you go one on one with him, he’ll beat you.”
Packer has hauled in 59 receptions for 1,105 yards and 16 touchdowns the past two seasons, according to MaxPreps. He caught 34 passes for 701 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, despite missing three games because of a hamstring injury.
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The Broncos have been busy
Packer is one of five players the Broncos’ have added to their 2025 recruiting class the past two weeks.
Skyridge (Utah) linebacker De’Shawn Toilolo committed on June 22. He’s a three-star recruit and the No. 22 overall prospect in Utah, according to 247Sports. He also has scholarship offers from California, San Diego State, Utah State, New Mexico, Navy, Idaho, Weber State, Portland State, Minot State and Utah Tech.
Inglewood (California) edge Lucien Holland joined the class on June 23. He’s a three-star recruit who also has scholarship offers from Washington State, San Diego State, Fresno State, San Jose State, Colorado State, UNLV, Houston Christian and Campbell.
The Broncos added the first player from Idaho to the class when Middleton offensive tackle Dallyn Grimes committed on Monday. He’s a three-star recruit and the No. 4 overall prospect in Idaho, according to 247Sports.
Another offensive lineman joined the class Thursday when Yelm (Washington) offensive tackle Jacob Tracy committed. The 6-6, 255-pound lineman, who also plays tight end and defensive end, is a three-star recruit and the No. 48 overall prospect in Washington, according to 247Sports. He also has scholarship offers from Eastern Washington, Idaho and Minot State.
Boise State football 2025 recruiting class
WR Quinton Brown, 5-8, 155, Liberty Christian High, Argyle, Texas
S Dominik Calhoun, 6-1, 191, Pittsburg (California) High
S Josiah Alanis, 6-2, 185, Evergreen High, Vancouver, Washington
WR AJ Jones, 6-2, 175, Vista Murrieta High, Murrieta, California
CB Christopher Solis-Lumar, 6-2, 175, Glendora (California) High
S Ja’Bree Bickham, 6-4, 180, McKinney (Texas) High
Edge De’Shawn Toilolo, 6-1, 215, Skyridge High, Lehi, Utah
Edge Lucien Holland, 6-4, 215, Inglewood (California) High
WR Gavin Packer, 5-10, 175, Skyview High, Vancouver, Washington
OL Dallyn Grimes, 6-5, 240, Middleton (Idaho) High
OL Jacob Tracy, 6-6, 255, Yelm (Washington) High
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